Liverpool High School Athletics Participation Data Reveals Shifts in Local Fitness Culture

High school athletics participation in Liverpool rose 18 percent in the 2025-26 academic year, the highest increase recorded since 2019, according to data compiled by Liverpool City Council and released on 9 July.

The jump matters now because secondary schools reopened full after pandemic disruptions and because youth inactivity rates in the North West remain above the national average. Local health officials have flagged that more teenagers need regular exercise to offset rising screen time and fewer outdoor opportunities in dense neighbourhoods.

Programmes tied to city parks and school clusters

Two initiatives stand out in the numbers. The Liverpool Schools Athletics Association runs weekly track sessions at Sefton Park for pupils from Toxteth and Wavertree schools, while the Merseyside Youth Games circuit uses Stanley Park facilities to host cross-country and relay events for teams from Anfield and Walton. Both programmes reported higher turnout this spring, with Sefton Park sessions drawing 340 regular attendees compared with 280 the previous year.

City records list average annual costs at £42 per pupil for equipment and league entry, a figure that has stayed flat since 2023 despite inflation pressures on transport to venues.

What the numbers suggest for families and clubs

Parents looking to keep teenagers involved can register through school PE departments before the autumn term starts on 2 September. Slots at the Sefton Park athletics track fill quickly, and the council advises checking availability online or at local libraries in the first week of August. The same data set also shows that schools with on-site facilities, such as those near Everton Park, maintained steadier numbers than those relying on shared city pitches, suggesting proximity still shapes who joins.