School trips gain official backing in new enrichment framework

The Government has published the full details of its Enrichment benchmarks alongside a £132.5 million Every Child Can programme intended to expand access to enrichment activities. 

It sets out eight benchmarks for schools and colleges to use to evaluate their own provision, and make any improvements to their offer. 

These are: 

1. A strategically aligned enrichment offer - understood by staff with a clear plan for implementation and monitoring. 
2. A broad and well-rounded enrichment offer - pupils have multiple and varied opportunities to engage in purposeful and fun enrichment activities. 
3. A well-communicated enrichment offer that celebrates participation and achievement - including acknowledging and celebrating participation and achievement in enrichment. 
4. An enrichment offer shaped by the school or college community - where appropriate, pupil leadership of enrichment activities is encouraged. 
5. An accessible and engaging enrichment offer - schools should consider barriers for pupils with SEND as well as disadvantaged students, making practical adjustments where needed. 
6. An enrichment offer that works in partnership - this could include museums, science and discovery centres as well as theatres and link in with ‘off-site trips and visits, including international’. 
7. An outcomes-focused enrichment offer - using effective systems to collect and monitor the outcomes of such enrichment activities and experiences. 
8. A continually improving enrichment offer - this can include gathering feedback from pupils, staff and parents and look at how to improve the offer. 

Various case studies, tools and resources have also been made available to help schools plan, strengthen and review their enrichment offer. 

Funding for activities & Ofsted considerations

Alongside the new benchmarks, a £132.5m Every Child Can programme has been unveiled to help fund activities both within school and in communities at weekends and in the holidays “ensuring enrichment is a common entitlement for all - not just those who can afford to pay”. 

Outlining the fund, the Government said: “Greater access to opportunities in sport, creative activities, nature and the arts will be made available to children both in and out of school in order to halve the participation gap and reclaim childhood for all young people.”

“As the world around our children continues to move fast, investment is about making sure the childhood experiences we truly value can once again be for every young person, wherever they live.”

Education Secretary Bridget Philipson

Ofsted will also consider a school’s enrichment offer as part of how it assesses personal development, and parents will also be able to see their local school’s offer through new ‘school profiles’. 

The Government first announced it would introduce the new Enrichment benchmarks back in November as part of wider education reforms.

It was then that it outlined the five categories of activities that all pupils and students should have access to which are: 

• Civic engagement, for example volunteering, debating, school and college democracy, community engagement
• Arts and culture, for example, taking part in and having live experience of music, art, dance, theatre, other expressive arts, visits to museums and galleries
• Nature, outdoors and adventure, for example time outdoors, climate education and sustainability projects, gardening, residentials and camps
• Sport and physical activities, for example participating in individual and team sports, physical activities like dance, fitness activities or cycling, representing the school or college, attending live events
• Developing wider life and future skills, for example digital literacy, STEM clubs, cooking, managing finances, enterprise and (for colleges only) teaching Relationships and Sex Education

Giving children their childhood back

Education Secretary Bridget Philipson said: “Every child should be able to enjoy sport and the creative arts, not just the lucky few.

“Whether it’s performing on stage, playing sport, exploring nature or getting involved in their community, these experiences build confidence, spark ambition and help young people discover what they are capable of. 

“As the world around our children continues to move fast, investment is about making sure the childhood experiences we truly value can once again be for every young person, wherever they live.”

The Government recognises that taking part in enrichment activities is associated with “higher attainment and a stronger sense of school belonging and wellbeing among children and young people”. 

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy added: “For too long we have under-invested… with appalling consequences. Every child should have the chance to live a richer, larger life and we will ensure they do.”

Reaction from senior leaders and the sector

Dr Anne Hunt, CEO for the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom charity, said: “We wholeheartedly welcome this bold, once-in-a-generation commitment.

“Learning beyond the classroom is well-evidenced to transform outcomes and is one of the most powerful tools we have for breaking down barriers to opportunity and tackling inequality, which is exactly why this Enrichment Framework matters. As the national voice for all learning beyond the classroom, we’re ready with tried and tested ways to help every school turn this ambition into reality.”

Martin Campbell, executive principal of the Meridian Trust added: “As conversations around enrichment entitlement continue to develop nationally, schools should feel reassured that they are already delivering many of these experiences. The LOtC Mark helps schools bring this together in a structured and strategic way, providing practical guidance, quality assurance and professional support to help develop provision further.

“The LOtC Mark has provided Meridian Trust with far more than an award — it has given us a clear framework to help organise, evaluate and strengthen the enrichment opportunities already taking place across our schools.”