2026 UK School Games

4th & 5th September 2026

Overview

The School Games National Finals is a biennial multi-sport event for the UK's school-age athletes, organised by the Youth Sport Trust and funded by Sport England. It brings together top young athletes from across the country to compete in a variety of sports, promoting physical activity, teamwork and personal development.

British Athletics and the designated lead organisations in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales are keen to provide a competition opportunity, which brings the best athletes together at a multi sports games and links with the Home Country Talent Pathways. The previous Games have used a revamped competition offer, which better meets the needs of the sport.

These Games have been integrated with Para Athletes for 20 years, providing an opportunity for numerous future GB Paralympians to represent their region and compete within a team. Over the years the format has changed. 2026 will be a new DNA competition format, with Para-Events mirroring the schedule where possible, whilst maintaining the popular Universal Relay.

Format of competition

2026 will see a new format of competition of this event - Dynamic New Athletics. Full details of the ‘DNA’ can be found here – Dynamic New Athletics
10 Integrated Teams will compete
Teams will be based on geographic regions. Athletes will be allocated a team based on their residential region.
All teams will compete across both days – Qualifiers on day 1 with all teams progressing to finals on day 2.
As per the disciplines below, each team is to have one athlete in each individual event and one relay team for 4x400m relay and for the Hunt.
All athletes will compete on day 1 & day 2. The composition of the team will not necessarily stay the same across both days
Each team will be made of 22 athletes. Team composition will be made up of:
- 9 male + 9 female athletes
- 4 Para Athletes (2 male + 2 female)
Athletes will be selected either for individual events or for relay events, not both. This is to ensure each team meets the overall size of 22 athletes and para-athletes.

Expression of Interest

Athletes must submit an expression of interest to be considered for selection.

The deadline for submissions is 23:59 on Wednesday 1st July 2026.

Expression of Interest Form

Please note that completing the expression of interest form does not guarantee selection. The form is an important part of the process and ensures Athletics NI has all the required information for athletes who may be selected.

Selection Policy

Eligibility

Athletes must be competing as an Under 18 on or before 31st August 2026 (Date of Birth between 1st September 2009 and 31st August 2011).
Athletes must be currently registered with a Home Country affiliated club.
Athletes must be in full time education which includes state education, independent education, home schooling, college or an apprenticeship that includes college education.
Athletes must have competed in their Home Country National Schools Championships.
Athletes must not currently be serving a period of ineligibility or a provisional or permanent suspension for a doping violation or for any other reason of misconduct.
All athletes wishing to be selected must express their interest by 23:59 on 1st July 2026.
Para- athletes should have a ‘UK Classification’ Review, Fixed Review or Confirmed OR ‘New Athletes’ competing at the events listed below will be considered for School Games selection, providing they submit classification paperwork that demonstrates they meet Minimum Impairment Criteria. More information on UK Classification can be found here.

Qualifications

Performances must be achieved during competitions organised or authorised by the World Athletics, its Area Associations, or its National Member Federations.
Domestic competitions will only be accepted if they are achieved in Permit Level 2 competition (or higher) OR any of the following Permit Level 1 competitions: Please visit - https://www.uka.org.uk/competitions/fixtures/
- Northern Ireland & Ulster Age Group Championships
- Ulster Schools Championships
- Any Open Meeting run by Athletics Northern Ireland
- English Schools Championships.
- All County / Regional Championships
- All County Schools’ Championships
- All divisions of the British Athletics League (BAL)
- All Premier division UK Youth Development League (YDL) matches (upper agegroup).
- Scottish Schools National Champs, Scottish League and Scottish District Champs
For the avoidance of doubt, any Permit Level 1 competitions not listed above will NOT be valid for entry standard purposes.
Providing the sprints are timed using photo finish and that sprints and jumps all use a wind gauge.
Wind-assisted performances (or performances achieved at events where wind measurement was not available) will not be accepted.
Any performances achieved in mixed track event, involving both male and female participants and held completely in a stadium, shall not be accepted.
Hand-timed performances in 100m, 200m, 800m, 80m/100m Hurdles and 400m Hurdles will not be accepted.
Indoor performances for all field events and for races of 400m or longer will be accepted.
For Para Athletes Performances at the following events will be used to assess current form and head-to-heads:
- - Activity Alliance National Junior Disability Athletics, Coventry
  - Scottish Disability Sport Junior Athletics, Grangemouth
  - NI & Ulster Age Group Championships, Belfast
  - Welsh Para Junior Championships, Deeside
  - BWAA Grand Prix Series, Coventry

Events:

Male	Female
200m	100m
400m Hurdles	800m
Mixed 4x400m Relay
The Hunt Relay (600m Women, 400m Men, 200m Women, 800m Men)
Long Jump	High Jump
Javelin	Shot Putt
Para Events
200m Ambulant (T11-13/T35-38/T42-47/T61-64)	100m Ambulant (T11-13/T35-38/T42-47/T61-64)
200m Wheelchair (T33-34/T51-54)	100m Wheelchair (T33-34/T51-54)
200m Frame Running (T71-72)	100m Frame Running (T71-72)
Long Jump (F11-13/20/35-38/42-47/61-64)	Shot Putt (F11-13/20/32-38/40-46/51-57/61-64)
Universal Mixed Relay 4x100m (Leg 1: Ambulant, Leg 2 & 3: Able Bodied, Leg 4: Wheelchair)

Eligible Impairment Groups (Para Athletics):

Cerebal Palsy	Neurological Impairment	Spinal Cord Injury
Amputees	Visual Impairment	Upper Limb Impairment
Dwarfism	Intellectual Impairment	Lower Limb Impairment

Medals & Scoring for Para Events:

Athlete performances will be ranked using ‘Raza Points’ as recognised by World Para Athletics.
Match Points will be based on the following:

Average Track Raza Points:

100m Ambulant Girls/ 200m Ambulant Boys

100m Wheelchair Girls/ 200m Wheelchair Boys

100m Frame Running/ Girls 200m Frame Running Boys

Average Field Raza Points:

Shot Put Girls Long Jump Boys

Universal Relay 4x100m by Position

Leg 1: Ambulant

Leg 2 & 3: Non- Disabled

Leg 4: Wheelchair

Individual medals will not be awarded.

Para Athletes Implements:

Field athletes will use their appropriate U18 implement as listed in WPA / UKA Rule
Implement Table

Assistance:

Athletes in the following classes are permitted assistance during the competition: T/F11-12, F31-33, F51-54, T71-72 and will also be offered accommodation for a parent, carer, or guide.
Athletes in other classes requiring assistance with blocks or run-ups, will be supported by a Team Coach or Starters Assistant.
Athletes requiring assistance or medical support outside of competition, that cannot be provided by a Team Coach, may request a parent or carer to attend.
Further advice re: accommodation and support will be provided following Selection.

Selection Process

The selection meeting will take place during the week commencing 13th July 2026.
A maximum of 22 athletes will be selected for the team.
A reserve list will also be selected based on the criteria outlined within this document.
The selected team will be published during the week commencing 13th July 2026.

Selection Criteria

Conditions for selection must be achieved between 8th May 2026 and 1st July 2026.

Athletes currently on Athletics NI Talent Programmes will be given priority selection.

The following factors may also be considered during the selection process. Please note that these are not listed in order of priority, and selectors will exercise discretion fairly and without bias:

Power of 10 Rankings
Results from Home Country National Schools Finals
Head-to-head performances within the past 12 months
Consistency of performance
Previous National and International Championship history
Illness/injury status

Appeals
There shall be no right of appeal to the selection of the School Games Teams made by the Panel. The provisions of the British Athletics Selection and Nomination “Fast” Appeals Procedure do not apply to the School Games team’s selection for the 2026 School Games National Finals.

Amendments
Athletics NI reserves the right to amend or vary this selection policy where necessary at any time. Any such amendments or variations will take effect from the first date of publication of the amended selection policy on the Athletics NI website.

Additional Information

Transport will be provided for teams. Athletes will be expected to travel with their team.
Athletes will be provided with accommodation. Athletes will be expected to arrive at Loughborough on Thursday 3rd September and will leave after the competition on Saturday 5th September.
Athletes will be provided with a team vest and a school games hoodie.
For more information about the School Games National Finals contact - james.douglas@athleticsni.org