Eight Thanet schools will receive funding from a new government programme to increase access to activities including sport, music, engineering, debating, volunteering, and outdoor learning.
More than 400 schools in disadvantaged communities across England have been offered tailored support backed by £22.5 million through the government’s Enrichment Expansion Programme.
The funding is part of the Government’s wider commitment to ensuring that every child, regardless of where they live, can access high-quality opportunities beyond the classroom.
The Thanet schools receiving funding from the programme are: Hartsdown Academy, The Royal Harbour Academy, St Anthony’s School, Charles Dickens School, Stone Bay School, Ursuline College, St George’s Church of England Foundation School and King Ethelbert School.
East Thanet MP Polly Billington chaired parliament’s cross-party group for Art, Craft and Design in Education before becoming Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in July. The group has helped secure changes to the national curriculum that will re-introduce a stronger focus on creative subjects.
She said: “Creativity, sport, and outdoor activities are hugely beneficial to young people’s mental health and wellbeing. But they also build key skills that prepare our kids for adult life and the world of work that so many are currently missing out on.
“I’m delighted the government has listened to my campaign and is investing in putting creativity, arts, and physical activities back at the heart of education.
“Creativity and the arts should never just be for those who can afford them. With this investment in local schools, young people in Thanet will now all be able to learn and thrive through creative subjects, no matter their background.”
The investment aims to help schools broaden opportunities for pupils by putting on more activities during the school day or after school, ranging from music groups, engineering clubs and debating societies to football teams, volunteering projects and outdoor learning programmes.
The programme will be delivered by the Youth Sport Trust and a team of national partners, with dedicated Enrichment Co-ordinators managing clusters of local schools to identify gaps in their current offer, develop enrichment plans, and connect with local partners to expand opportunities for their pupils.
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