New enrichment benchmarks put young people at the heart of opportunity
Ormiston Trust welcomes the Department for Education’s new Enrichment Framework and Benchmarks, recognising them as an important step towards ensuring that every young person can access high-quality enrichment opportunities, regardless of their background or circumstances. The framework provides schools and colleges with a shared approach to planning, strengthening and reviewing their enrichment offer.
The new benchmarks encourage schools to think beyond the number of clubs or activities available and focus instead on quality, inclusion, partnership working, pupil voice and meaningful outcomes for young people. They highlight the important role enrichment can play in helping children and young people develop confidence, skills, wellbeing, belonging and future aspirations.
Ormiston Trust has been closely involved in this agenda through its support for Enrichment for All, a coalition of organisations from across education, youth, sport, arts and community sectors working together to champion access to enrichment for every young person. The Department for Education's framework draws on many of the principles championed through this work.
"The benchmarks give schools a clearer shared language for enrichment. The next task is making sure that language translates into access, quality and young people's real influence over what is offered."
Dr Aneela Bukhari, Head of Education and Programmes at Ormiston Trust
Turning national ambition into local action
Alongside its national work, Ormiston Trust is supporting schools across its network through the Youth-Driven Enrichment Programme. The programme helps schools place young people at the centre of enrichment by giving them a meaningful role in shaping, delivering and evaluating activities.
Young people work alongside staff to review existing opportunities, identify gaps, co-design new activities and help evaluate what is making the biggest difference. Schools are also supported to create student leadership groups and develop new enrichment opportunities based on what young people say they want and need.
This approach reflects one of the key principles behind the new benchmarks: that enrichment is most effective when it is shaped by the school community and informed by young people's experiences.
Looking ahead
For Ormiston Trust, enrichment is about far more than filling time outside lessons. It is about helping young people discover new interests, build relationships, develop confidence and access opportunities that can shape their future.
Over the coming year, the Trust will continue working with schools, charities and community partners to test youth-led approaches, share learning and strengthen opportunities across the network.
The ambition is simple: every young person should have the chance to explore, create, contribute and thrive through meaningful enrichment experiences.
