Guidance in relation to coaches working in schools

TeamMCR recommends that schools should follow the National Association for PE’s guidelines when employing and using sports coaches;

The Association for Physical Education (afPE) is the professional association that supports and promotes physical education, school sport, and physical activity across the UK. Their position statement for coaches working in schools is as follows;  

The DfE and afPE guidance is clear, coaches should not displace teachers in delivering the statutory Physical Education curriculum. Physical Education is a national curriculum subject, and its delivery should be led by qualified teachers, ideally with QTS. 

External coaches can support PE delivery, especially in areas such as, 

  • enrichment activities 
  • extracurricular clubs 
  • specific sports expertise 
  • upskilling teachers through co-teaching or CPD 

There are risks associated with outsourcing the Physical Education curriculum including, 

  • loss of curriculum control and consistency 
  • limited qualifications and pedagogical knowledge among some coaches 
  • reduced teacher confidence and skill development in PE 
  • potential non-compliance with Ofsted expectations and national curriculum standards 

Association for PE (afPE) believe best practice is the following, 

  • use coaches to complement teacher-led Physical Education, not replace it. 
  • conduct a PE and sport review to identify gaps before hiring coaches. 
  • school leadership should always be looking for sustainable and effective deployment of the workforce 

For more information on coaches working in schools and school’s legal responsibilities, please refer AfPE’s new Safe Practice in PE, school sport and physical activity (Oct 2025) Safe Practice: in Physical Education, School Sport and Physical Activity – Association for Physical Education 

This highly valued Guide is widely recognised as the national benchmark for safe practice, aligning with current UK health and safety law, offering up-to-date and sector-specific guidance for managing risk in PE, sport, and physical activity. It provides clear risk assessment tools, policy templates, and practical examples that help schools demonstrate a reasonable duty of care.   

For TeamMCR Enhanced members, a copy of the Guide is included as part of your support package including training from the author of the Safe Practice in PE, Sport and Physical Activity Guide 2025.