The Lionesses achieve landmark legacy goal

The Lionesses’ EURO legacy wish has been achieved today with a transformational Government announcement to help every girl in England follow in the team’s footsteps.

The game-changing decision to provide girls with equal access to football in schools, as part of an all-sports pledge, meets one of The FA’s key strategic objectives. It will significantly increase participation across the nation and build on the inspiration of England’s triumph at UEFA Women’s EURO 2022.

It is a result of the open letter to former prime ministerial contenders Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss signed by all 23 players in the England EURO winning squad days after the historic win at Wembley Stadium on 31 July 2022.. The letter voiced their collective belief on how school sport should change and how equal access should be created for every schoolgirl. Currently only 67% of all schools and 41% of secondary schools offer football equally to girls in PE lessons and only 46% of schools provide the same extracurricular opportunities as boys.

The letter sparked constructive dialogue between the players, The FA and Government – leading to today’s historic commitment.

As part of the announcement, the Government will make it clear to schools that they are expected to deliver a minimum of two hours of PE per week and ensure that girls have equal access to all school sport, including football.  

The transformational change is backed by a multi-million-pound investment in school sport and after school activities – including over £600 million in funding over the next two academic years for the PE and Sport Premium and £22 million for the School Games Organisers network. This multi-year funding package provides schools across the country with the security and stability to make long-term plans for PE and school sport, including girls’ football.

The Government will also issue strengthened guidance to schools on how to spend this funding, including new guidelines on equal access. They have also created a new digital tool for the PE and Sport Premium in order to support schools and ensure they are using the funding to the best advantage of their pupils.

Schools that successfully deliver equal opportunities for girls and boys will be rewarded through the School Games Mark, which will assess parity of provision in PE and extracurricular sport. 

The news comes on International Women’s Day and coincides with more than 200,000 girls joining The FA and Barclays’ Let Girls Play ‘Biggest Ever Football Session’ events in schools up and down the country.

The Let Girls Play campaign was launched in October 2021 to support The FA’s strategic ambition to provide girls with equal access to football. With their record-breaking investment into women's and girls’ football, Barclays’ role within the Girls' Football School Partnerships has been integral to support The FA’s ambition.

Mark Bullingham, The FA’s Chief Executive said: “The magic of last summer’s Euros victory can now live on with a legacy that has the ability to change the future of women’s football and positively impact society.

“Equal access for girls is one of The FA’s strategic ambitions and for such progress to be made is a very proud day. We’re all extremely grateful to the players for using their voice to deliver change and would like to place on record our thanks to Government for the positive measures announced today.”