The RAISE Active Schools Programme
The RAISE Active Schools Programme is a multisport Physical Education initiative to be delivered across 96 primary schools to enhance pupil engagement, attendance and wellbeing, while building sustainable capacity within schools to support high‑quality curriculum‑aligned Physical Education and positive learning behaviours.
Developed as a collaborative, multi-sport partnership between the Irish FA Foundation, Ulster Rugby, Ulster GAA and Ulster Hockey, this initiative aligns with the RAISE Programme’s strategic objectives of raising achievement and raising aspirations through a whole‑community, place‑based approach.
The RAISE Active Schools Programme places a strong emphasis on building capacity within schools and ensuring sustainability beyond the life of the initiative.
The programme embeds teacher professional learning, supporting long-term improvements in Physical Education provision and strengthening learning behaviours aligned to improved educational outcomes.
Programme delivery
The Programme will be delivered during the 2026/27 academic year to 96 primary schools in RAISE localities.
A structured 10-week block of sessions will be delivered in participating schools in addition to existing Physical Education provision.
A framework aligned to the Northern Ireland Curriculum underpins delivery, focusing on movement skills, teamwork, creativity and leadership.
Participating schools
Expressions of Interest were invited from primary schools to participate in the RAISE Active Schools Programme. There was an overwhelming response from schools across Northern Ireland, with 469 schools submitting an Expression of Interest for 96 places.
As the programme was oversubscribed across all RAISE Localities, schools were selected by ranking those serving RAISE areas according to the percentage of pupils residing within a RAISE locality, from highest to lowest.
The top 96 schools in this ranking were selected and a list is available below.
Further information
Further details of the Programme, including delivery model and school commitments, are available in the FAQs document;
For queries regarding the RAISE Active Schools Programme please contact the RAISE Team on raise@education-ni.gov.uk