Sport England is an increasingly insight-led organisation that is tasked with the behavioural challenge of getting more people active.
To create the right conditions to increase participation, to decide who they invest in, and understand how sport can deliver wider objectives, they need both a broad and deep understanding of sports participation.
Through their commitment to the measurement of sports participation over the past two decades, Sport England have largely unparalleled participation data both internationally and amongst other sporting and cultural agencies in the UK.
Through the Active Lives Survey, they have sought to strengthen this commitment whilst ensuring their data reflects the best available methods of data collection and aligns with their 2021-31 strategy ‘Uniting the Movement’.
They initially developed the Active Lives Survey for adults, which started in November 2015. For that survey they piloted new methods, consulted widely with the sector and sought advice from independent experts such as the Office for National Statistics and the Institute for Social and Economic Research in the development process.
The Sport England 2016-21 strategy ‘Towards an Active Nation’ included an extension of Sport England’s responsibilities to include children from age 5 and over, with a particular focus on building a positive attitude to sport and activity, which has benefits in childhood as well as laying the foundations for being active through their adult lives.
During Autumn 2016 they started the development of a new Active Lives survey for children and young people to run parallel to the adult survey, using a methodology and approach which is appropriate for those aged 5 to 16 years old.
Sport England’s 2021-31 strategy ‘Uniting the Movement’ also focuses on ensuring every child and young person can experience the enjoyment and benefits that being active can bring.
The Active Lives Children and Young People Survey has been running for eight years.
Table 1.1: Survey year and academic year
| Survey year | Academic year |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | 2017-18 |
| Year 2 | 2018-19 |
| Year 3 | 2019-20 |
| Year 4 | 2020-21 |
| Year 5 | 2021-22 |
| Year 6 | 2022-23 |
| Year 7 | 2023-24 |
| Year 8 | 2024-25 |
The subject of this report is the academic year 2024-25 (Year 8) survey. Throughout this report, academic years are referred to with the survey years (1-8) in brackets; for example, the academic year 2024-2025 is referred to as academic year 2024-25 (Year 8).