The Enrichment Partnership Pilot

by Karen Tuckley

The government previously delivered the £21 million Essential Life Skills (ELS) Programme (2018 to 2019) to increase extracurricular activities through primary and secondary schools in 12 Opportunity Areas. Findings from that programme highlighted that enrichment offers would benefit from engaging young people in co-design, harnessing local provision and coordinating across clusters of schools. Enrichment offers should include a wide range of activities and address practical barriers (e.g. cost) and social barriers to participation (low confidence, negative perceptions).

The Enrichment Partnerships Pilot aims to improve the enrichment offer of up to 200 secondary schools in Education Investment Areas. The Pilot 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 in their respective local areas to:

  • co-design the enrichment offer, aligned with local needs,
  • develop local partnerships to deliver enrichment activities as part of the designed offer,
  • facilitate collaboration between schools to offer an enhanced enrichment offer,
  • identify efficiencies across schools and access additional funding streams and support,
  • upskill school staff, ensuring long-term sustainability.

To find out more about the programme and how you can apply to become a  delivery partner please click here.