Among the government policies announced following the publication of the curriculum and assessment review earlier this month was the creation of a series of enrichment benchmarks to ensure that schools provide students with opportunities beyond the classroom.
The categories for these enrichment benchmarks are: civic engagement, arts and culture, nature and outdoor adventure, sport and physical activity, and wider life skills such as cooking, debating or coding. Ofsted will assess schools against these expectations.
Focusing on the wider enrichment that schools can bring to a young person’s life is something that we at Ninestiles, an Academy have been doing since 2023. We have long recognised that there are many life skills pupils need that traditional lessons may not cover.
Research from the Education Policy Institute shows that students who take part in enrichment activities are significantly more likely to go on to higher education and secure employment.
But what are the enrichment activities that students should have access to in order to gain a certain level of cultural capital and shared experiences, to help them thrive in life after school and in wider society?
Along with our trust, Summit Learning Trust, we have crafted a programme of 16 social and cultural enrichment activities that we believe will ensure that every student leaves us with a base level of collective experiences.
16 by 16: our school’s key enrichment experiences
We call this programme 16 by 16, reflecting our desire to ensure that all students have experienced each one before they leave school. The programme covers these areas.
- Attending a live theatre performance.
- Representing the school in a debate or sporting event.
- Experiencing an overnight stay in the countryside.
- Completing a work experience placement.
- Riding a bike.
- Visiting the seaside.
- Visiting London.
- Participating in a school sports day.
- Attending a live sports event.
- Taking part in a Remembrance Day service.
- Reading a book by an author of their choice.
- Visiting Parliament or meeting an MP.
- Visiting a university.
- Engaging in a leadership experience.
- Exploring a museum.
- Visiting Birmingham’s library, symphony hall and an art gallery
While some of these experiences might seem easily achieved, we are a school in one of the top 20 per cent most deprived wards nationally, and serve a diverse community where approximately two-thirds of students are eligible for the pupil premium.
For some of our children and young people, ordering from a menu or seeing the sea for the first time is a transformative moment. These experiences build confidence and open up new possibilities. They are not just memorable, they are foundational.
How we make it work
Each activity is carefully aligned with the curriculum, enriching students’ understanding of literature, history, civic life, the arts and physical education. The programme also supports personal development, encouraging resilience, leadership and a sense of belonging.
Not all of these activities are easy to organise - enabling a large number of students to visit Parliament, for example, can be complicated.
Our trip to the countryside is linked to parts of the curriculum, including geography, so it serves as both an enrichment and a learning experience at the same time.
A programme like this requires time and commitment from our staff, but they are happy to be flexible and help out after seeing the very tangible benefits some of these enrichment experiences have for our students.
We also rely not just on our teaching staff but our wider staff body. Without the support of our administration staff, half of these trips wouldn’t be possible. But they’re willing to be involved because they see the value we’re offering to our students.
Immediate impact
Since we launched the initiative, it has met with overwhelming support from staff members, many of whom volunteer their time to make the programme a success.
Given the importance that we attach to our 16 by 16 programme, student participation is mandatory but also entirely free. Costs are covered by the school and trust, meaning no one misses out.
We hope that 16 by 16 stands as a reminder of what is possible when a school community commits to giving every child the same chance to experience the world.
True enrichment is not a luxury or an add-on - it is an essential part of education that broadens horizons, builds confidence and helps young people to find their place in society.
Sarah Beswick is assistant principal at Ninestiles, an Academy
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