The Football Association (FA) has achieved a significant goal three years ahead of schedule, ensuring that 90% of schools in England offer equal access to football for girls aged 7 to 14 during physical education (PE). Initially set for 2028, this milestone is part of the FA’s broader strategy for promoting women’s and girls’ football, announced in October 2024.
Currently, around 2.6 million girls in Key Stages 2 and 3 now enjoy equal opportunities to play football in PE classes, which is a remarkable 31% increase since the 2020/21 season. Furthermore, the percentage of schools providing equal access to football across all Key Stages (1-4) has climbed from 63% to 79%.
One of the key drivers behind this cultural change is the England women’s national team, known as the Lionesses, successfully defending their UEFA Women’s Euro title over the summer. This win ignited a growing interest among young girls who want to play football, as highlighted in an FA statement.
Since 2019, the FA has collaborated with Barclays to enhance equal access for girls to engage in football, both in curricular and extracurricular formats. Their partnership, called Barclays Girls’ Football in Schools, has expanded impressively by over 500%. It now includes 20,202 eligible schools nationwide, a remarkable jump from just 3,000 when it began.
“This is a fantastic moment to celebrate,” said Ian Wright, a football ambassador for Barclays. “I mentioned after the Euros that if girls can’t play, then what have we achieved? This initiative isn’t only about producing future Lionesses, but simply about making football a normal activity for girls, just like it is for boys. We aimed high, and achieving this target three years early is a significant triumph.”
Still, the FA recognizes that more work lies ahead. While they are pleased with the achievements in Key Stages 2 and 3, they aim to elevate the percentage of schools providing equal opportunities in extracurricular clubs for girls from 83% to 90% by 2028. The situation for girls aged 14 to 16, known as Key Stage 4, poses challenges; factors like self-confidence and body image often deter teenage girls from participating in team sports. Currently, 68% of schools in the Barclays programme offer extracurricular opportunities for girls, and the goal is to boost this number to 75% by 2028.
“The vision we hold is simple—no girl should face obstacles to playing football in school,” said Stacey Mullock, the FA’s head of development. “This belief drove us to set ambitious targets and foster a change in mindset where girls enjoy the same access as boys. While we have made progress, our journey is far from over. There is still crucial work needed, especially in extracurricular activities and for those in Key Stage 4, to ensure every girl has equal opportunities in football.”
Adding to these efforts, Tom Corbett, who heads sponsorship at Barclays, shared, “Reaching our target is a notable achievement and shows how much we’ve progressed in the last seven years. Yet, we won’t stop here. Our mission is to ensure every girl, at any age, gets to enjoy the game that unites us all.”
Another exciting initiative in the realm of girls’ football is the inaugural Alessia Cup, launched by Lioness and Arsenal forward Alessia Russo. Organized in collaboration with Sky and Goals 4 Girls, this tournament aimed to eliminate barriers to girls’ participation in sports. Held recently in north London, over 180 girls participated, highlighting the tournament’s focus on building confidence, resilience, and leadership—skills essential beyond the football field.
This competition took place at a critical time, given research shows that girls aged 11 to 18 miss out on an astounding 280 million hours of sports compared to their male counterparts annually. Playing sports during childhood strongly correlates with women reaching leadership positions later in life.
Launched in October 2025, the Alessia Russo Foundation is determined to create more opportunities for girls and young women to engage in sports proudly, learn meaningfully, and live powerfully.
The future for girls in football looks promising, thanks to ongoing efforts by the FA, Barclays, and other organizations. Together, they are laying a strong foundation for equality in sports, ensuring that every girl has the chance to shine on the field.
#GirlsFootball #FootballEquality #WomenInSports #GirlPower #YouthSports #SportsForAll #EmpowerGirls #InclusiveSports #PlayLikeAGirl #AlessiaCup
Original Text – https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12040/13472952/fa-hits-target-for-90-per-cent-of-schools-to-offer-girls-equal-access-to-football-in-pe