DCMS launches enrichment programme for schools

Children in disadvantaged areas across England will have the opportunity to benefit from enrichment activities such as art and drama as part of a government pilot scheme, it has been announced.

The Enrichment Partnerships Pilot, jointly run by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Education, aims to test a 'system change approach' to improve the enrichment offer in up to 200 secondary schools located in Education Investment Areas.

Activities in the two-year programme, which is due to run until March 2025, will potentially include art, drama, sports, outdoor experiences, debating, volunteering, business, tech and cooking.

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DCMS said the pilot, backed with £2.7m of government money, will identify and fund a small number of staff in local organisations, including local authorities, voluntary and community sector organisations or multi-academy trusts, to provide bespoke support to secondary schools.

They will then be required to co-design enrichment offers to align with local needs and develop local partnerships to deliver activities.

It is also hoped they will facilitate collaboration between schools and identify efficiencies across schools, as well as accessing additional funding streams and support.

"The project aims to test whether greater coordination locally can enhance school enrichment offers and remove barriers to participation, create efficiencies (reducing the burden on school staff resources) and unlock existing funding and provision," DCMS said.

"[Enrichment] activities can have a significant positive impact on young people, including on their academic progress and wellbeing. 

"Many schools would like to do more to support these activities, but face barriers such as limited staff time, low pupil engagement and difficulty connecting with local partners who could support delivery."

DCMS is seeking to appoint a partner to deliver the pilot — a single organisation or joint delivery body – that has knowledge of the education system and enrichment activities and experience in grant making and local partnership building.

The delivery partner will be in charge of distributing grants to local organisations in 15 to 20 local areas, which will work with clusters of around 10 secondary schools each.