The report details that Active Schools continues to play a vital role in getting children and young people active, improving wellbeing, supporting learning, and strengthening connections between schools and communities.
According to the latest data - from 2024/25 - 280,000 children and young people, representing 40% of Scotland’s school roll, took part in activities, with participation particularly strong among primary pupils.
Forbes Dunlop, Chief Executive of sportscotland, said: “Active Schools has been a cornerstone of our work to ensure every young person in Scotland has the chance to enjoy the life changing benefits of sport and physical activity.
“This evaluation shows just how deeply the programme is woven into the fabric of school and community life, supporting wellbeing, learning and inclusion.
“The findings give us a strong platform to build on, and we are committed to working with our partners to create an even more inclusive and impactful model for the future.”
Funded in partnership with the Scottish Government and all 32 local authorities, the programme has been running for over 20 years with annual investment of over £16 million.
It is designed to increase and improve opportunities for young people to take part in sport and physical activity before, during and after the school day.
Targeted work with inactive young people and those facing barriers including cost of participating in sport, caring responsibilities and a lack of confidence - was highlighted as particularly effective, especially small-scale and relationship-based approaches.
Active Schools continues to make a significant contribution to young people’s physical and mental health. However, challenges remain for pupils with additional support needs (ASN), where participation and perceived impact were lower.
The evaluation explored the programme's delivery model across five priority areas: quality opportunities, inclusive approaches, pathways, volunteering and leadership.
Key findings include:
265,000 sessions delivered in 2024/25, with strong satisfaction from schools
Growing reliance on volunteers (92% of deliverers), but fewer holding formal qualifications
Over 1,000 school-to-club links, though with gaps for ASN pupils and rural communities
Almost 27,000 young people involved in leadership programmes
Active Schools is widely regarded by schools, local authorities and partners as an essential part of Scotland’s approach to supporting young people’s physical activity, wellbeing and learning.
While the model is highly valued, stakeholders identified opportunities to strengthen it further, particularly around inclusion, volunteer support, quality assurance, and clarifying the balance between universal and targeted provision.
As sportscotland looks beyond 2027, the evaluation highlights strong foundations and significant opportunities to build an even more inclusive, impactful model - ensuring every young person in Scotland can experience the benefits of sport and physical activity.
Find out more
The full evaluation can be found here.
