Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy shows how enrichment can work for every young person
As schools across the country begin exploring the Department for Education's new enrichment benchmarks, one school in the Ormiston network is already demonstrating what meaningful, inclusive enrichment can look like in practice.
At Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy, part of Ormiston Academies Trust, leaders recognised a challenge faced by many schools. While enrichment opportunities were available, not every young person could stay after school to take part. Transport, caring responsibilities and other commitments often created barriers for the pupils who could benefit most.
Rather than accepting those barriers, the academy redesigned its approach.
Creating time for every student to participate
In September 2024, the academy introduced Enrichment Thursday – an extended school day with a dedicated enrichment session built into the timetable for all students in Years 7 to 10. Year 11 students use the same time for examination preparation.
By making enrichment part of the school week, the academy created a guaranteed opportunity for every student to participate, regardless of their circumstances.
Students can choose from more than 50 activities, ranging from football, dance and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award to jewellery making, crochet and digital animation. Activities are organised around five themes – body, mind, creativity, community and future – helping students experience a broad range of opportunities throughout the year.
Making enrichment accessible
The approach reflects a growing national conversation about how schools can move beyond offering enrichment and instead ensure it is genuinely accessible.
For Dr Aneela Bukhari, Head of Education and Programmes at Ormiston Trust, the model highlights an important shift in thinking.
"Innovation in enrichment is not only about adding more activities. It is about removing barriers, listening to the realities of young people's lives, and designing provision so that opportunity is genuinely within reach."
The impact has been significant. The Department for Education highlighted the Ilkeston model within its new enrichment benchmarks, noting that student engagement has increased and that Enrichment Thursday is consistently identified by pupils as one of the highlights of the week. The school has also reported an increase in attendance on Thursdays since the programme was introduced.
Sharing learning across the network
For Ormiston Trust, examples like Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy demonstrate how schools can translate national ambitions into practical action.
As the Trust continues its work supporting youth-driven enrichment across the network, the Ilkeston model provides valuable learning about what happens when schools design opportunities around the realities of young people's lives.
The ambition is simple: enrichment should not be something available only to those who can stay after school. It should be a meaningful part of every young person's education, helping them build confidence, discover new interests and develop the skills and relationships that support them to thrive.
