SECONDARY NEWS
Premier League announces increased commitment to supporting secondary education through Inspires
The Premier League has announced an increased commitment to supporting secondary education, with more young people across England and Wales set to benefit from its Premier League Inspires programme in the 2025/26 school year.
Delivered through professional football club charities, Premier League Inspires uses the power of football to empower young people to develop personal, social, employability and life-skills, through mentoring and a series of regular face-to-face group sessions, workshops and social- action projects.
This season, 54 Premier League and EFL club charities will deliver Premier League Inspires in schools across England and Wales, up from 45 in season 2024/25.
Clare Sumner, Chief Policy and Social Impact Officer at the Premier League, said: “The Premier League uses the power of football to inspire children across England and Wales to learn, grow and reach their potential. We are pleased to be increasing our support for young people by funding more club charities to deliver Premier League Inspires. This additional investment will help build on the great work already taking place in schools, giving teachers and pupils more access to mentoring and positive opportunities.”
Proven impact in schools
Independent research by Sheffield Hallam University shows the impact Premier League Inspires is having on young people:
• 96% of schools say it helps improve pupil engagement in lessons • 92% report improved behaviour • 86% say it reduces risk of exclusion • Nearly 80% say it helps reduce absenteeism
Alex White, Chief Executive of the Premier League Charitable Fund, said: “Thanks to the work of more than 50 professional football club charities, Premier League Inspires continues to make a lasting impact on the lives of young people across England and Wales. An increase in
8
www.education-today.co.uk
Premier League investment has enabled us to expand the number of club charities we are able to support to deliver the programme, helping to ensure that more young people feel connected, empowered, and inspired to thrive in school. This strengthened approach builds on recent findings from Sheffield Hallam University, which revealed that nearly 80% of participating schools saw a reduction in pupil absenteeism due to the programme. By providing tailored educational resources, mentoring, and enriching opportunities, Premier League Inspires can continue to help young people across the country to build confidence, develop essential life skills, and stay engaged in education and training.” Now in its sixth year of delivery, the programme has engaged more than 40,000 young people, supporting them to reach their potential in more than 1,000 education establishments across England and Wales. One student, Aabid, who took part in Inspires with Burnley FC in the Community, credits the programme with setting him on the right path after being at risk of exclusion:
“Before the Premier League Inspires programme, the way I used to speak to teachers was bad. I had no motivation for anything. My mentor showed me both paths available to me, the right and wrong, and just opened my eyes to it all.”
Supporting the wider education system
The expansion of Premier League Inspires supports its partnership with the government on the Youth Guarantee initiative that aims to help young people into education or employment.
While the Premier League continues to support primary education through Premier League Primary Stars, the increased commitment to Premier League Inspires reflects the Premier League’s growing investment in helping secondary schools address issues of engagement, behaviour, and aspiration among pupils.
To find out more about the Premier League’s commitment to community activity, visit
www.premierleague.com/morethanagame
October 2025
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44
