Beyond School: The Case for School Enrichment

Too many poorer pupils miss out on after-school activities that their wealthier peers benefit from because teachers lack the time and funding to run them. 

We need our schools to be better. The disadvantage gap has scarcely closed in recent decades and young people are leaving school without the cultural capital that is vital for their futures. A structured programme of school enrichment is proven to help improve academic attainment and build the soft skills that employers are after and children need.

Despite this those who could benefit most from school enrichment often aren’t offered the chance:

• Almost half (45%) of young people in the wealthiest decile attend youth clubs, scouts or girl guides weekly, compared to a quarter (26%) of the most deprived decile. Young people in the wealthiest decile are also three times more likely to sing in a choir or play in a band or orchestra weekly. Roughly one in seven of those in the least deprived report doing so, compared to one in 20 of those who are most deprived. Meanwhile just over 50% of young people in the wealthiest decile play a musical instrument, compared to under a third of those in the most deprived decile.
• Children growing up in the North are also granted fewer opportunities. Young people in the South East are twice as likely to say they play music outside of school than young people in the North East, and 40% more likely to do dance. Almost 5 in 10 young people in London say they play a musical instrument, compared to 3 in 10 in the North East.