The government has announced a new framework to give every school and college the tools to offer increased enrichment activities for all young people.

New enrichment benchmarks will support the design and delivery of enrichment activities across:

• Civic engagement for example volunteering, debating, school and college democracy, community engagement
• Arts and culture for example taking part in and having live experience of music, art, dance, theatre, other expressive arts, visits to museums and galleries
• Nature, outdoors and adventure for example time outdoors, climate education and sustainability projects, gardening, residentials and camps
• Sport and physical activities for example participating in individual and team sports, physical activities like dance, fitness activities or cycling, representing the school or college, attending live events
• Developing wider life and future skills for example digital literacy, STEM clubs, enterprise, cooking, and managing finances

Enrichment may be delivered within timetabled lesson time or outside of it and can support children and young people with personal development, developing new skills and knowledge either directly linked to or in addition to the curriculum.

Whilst the enrichment benchmarks are non-statutory, Ofsted will take schools' enrichment offers into account from September 2026.