afPE Quality Mark - Association for Physical Education

afPE Quality Mark

What is the afPE Quality Mark?

The afPE Quality Mark is a prestigious award that will evidence the strength and quality of Physical Education, School Sport and Physical Activity (PESSPA) in your school. Itpa will raise the profile of the subject and the school, both locally and nationally, and will promote the outstanding work that is being undertaken on a daily basis.

The afPE Quality Mark is a unique self review and evaluation process that involves the completion of an application form as well as a school visit by one of afPE’s Consultation Team of highly qualified school improvement professionals.

Your consultant will support you through the process (via telephone and email support) and will conduct a school visit as part of the award.

There are three application windows every year and schools should allow themselves up to three months to carry out the application.

Outcomes for Children and Young People

All young people are entitled to benefit from high quality physical education and there is significant evidence to show this supports other learning right across the curriculum.

PE also contributes to healthy and active lifestyles, improves emotional well being, reduces poor behaviour, increases attendance and develops key skills such as leadership, confidence and social skills.

Click HERE to download the afPE Outcomes Poster which highlights the difference PESSPA make to the development of well-balanced, responsible individuals.

The Benefits of the afPE Quality Mark

Ensures rigour and sustainability in the planning, monitoring and continuous development of high quality PESSPA
Recognises and celebrates outstanding practice and innovation in PESSPA so that the school ‘stands out from the crowd’
Provides evidence of whole school improvement
Raises the profile and promotes a positive message of PESSPA at local, regional and national levels
Provides a platform for sharing excellence and success
Outlines where your school is now, and where you are going!

How to Apply for the Award

Schools across the UK, including international and British schools abroad may register their interest in applying for the award by emailing qualitymark@afpe.org.uk.

You will then be emailed a copy of the application form, along with a list of available application windows. Once you have chosen a date to apply, afPE will allocate you a consultant who will support you through the process.

afPE’s Quality Mark Award is currently extremely busy, so we are therefore working with a waiting list.

The submission dates are always the last Friday of February, June and November. The next three planned submission dates are:

Friday 28th November 2025
Friday 27th February 2026
Friday 26th June 2026

N.B. The dates above are the closing dates when you’ll need to have had your school visit by and also submit your application form by.

How Much Will It Cost?

Initial Application:

£350 (plus VAT) for afPE members
£500 (plus VAT) for non-members

Re-Application:

£300 (plus VAT) for afPE members
£450 (plus VAT) for non-members

If successful, the award is valid for three years. This payment is required before you are appointed a validator to support you through the process. Overseas schools will incur additional costs.

N.B. Primary schools in England can use the PE and Sport Premium funding to apply for the award. The afPE Quality Mark process provides valuable evidence towards reporting on how you are utilising the funding.

What Will Your School Receive?

If successful, your school will receive:

A certificate
The afPE Quality Mark logo for use on your website/letterhead

In addition:

Your school will be named on the ‘Roll of Honour’ on the afPE Quality Mark web page
If in England, afPE will signpost your school to the Department for Education as a model of best practice

Testimonials

“Attaining the Quality Mark was a fantastic journey of both reflection and celebration for Niton Primary School, showcasing our dedication to continuing high quality. It also reinforced the importance of PE in fostering a healthy, active and engaged school community. It is a testament to the hard work of our staff and pupils and affirms our commitment to maintaining excellence in PE, sport and physical activity.”
Ben Woodhouse - Health and Physical Education Leader at Niton Primary School on the Isle of Wight.

“Your understanding at a local level of the context and challenges that our school faces, and evaluating the ways that we have found to overcome these. Our meeting was extremely positive and was more of a dialogue rather than being ‘done to’. The opportunity for the school to reflect and review, which helps to inform our future planning and positive trajectory moving forwards. We are not happy to stand still – we are committed to being outward looking for the benefit of our students, community and staff. The school’s ethos, provision and leadership has been recognised by a nationally accredited and highly respected external body. We hope to continue to build on our partnership!”
Mrs Melissa Lock, Headteacher, Hayle Academy, Cornwall

"We strongly believe that our broad and balanced PE curriculum, coupled with our extensive range of inclusive extra-curricular activities, enables our pupils to acquire the skills – both physical and social – to lead happy, healthy lives, whilst also creating lifelong memories of their sporting experiences at Avondale. This enables them, as our school motto says, to ‘Learn, Smile and Remember’. Achieving the afPE Quality Mark with Distinction as well as the School Games Platinum Mark reinforces this, and we now seek to continue to develop and improve our practice to ensure that our provision for our children is the very best that it can be as we look to the future"

Matt Clegg, PE lead at Avondale Primary School, Lancashire

Quality Mark Flyer

Click HERE to download a flyer outlining the afPE Quality Mark for Physical Education, School Sport & Physical Activity.

afPE Quality Mark – Roll of Honour

Please see the list of schools that have achieved the afPE Quality Mark for Physical Education, School Sport & Physical Activity.

There are two types of award – Quality Mark and Quality Mark with Distinction.

Awards - June 2025

The following schools have been awarded the afPE Quality Mark (for a period of 3 years):

North Birmingham Academy, Birmingham
St Mary's Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary School, Bridgwater
Outwoods Primary School, Horninglow
Outwood Primary Academy Park Hill, Eastmoor
Sirius Academy West, Hull
Samares Primary School, Jersey