GENERAL NEWS NEWS...
DfE launches National Centre for Arts Education
The Department for Education (DfE) is establishing the National Centre for Arts Education (NCAE) to increase young people’s access to high- quality arts education in school and widen opportunities regardless of background.
Etio, a key DfE delivery partner, is set to begin delivery in November 2026, alongside research partner Birmingham City University (BCU), and quality assurance partner the Chartered College of Teaching (CCT). NCAE will also be supported by Arts Council England.
NCAE will be led by educational leader, researcher and music educator, Dr Steven Berryman, alongside a team of expert senior advisers, supporting more than 10,000 schools in underserved areas.
NCAE is set to champion high-quality education in art and design, dance, drama and music. It will comprise four priority programme pillars: supporting excellent teaching through targeted professional development delivery; promoting arts education; overseeing the Music Hubs network; and providing national strategic leadership and philanthropic coordination. NCAE is expected to become a trusted source of information for pupils, families and teachers, pairing classroom learning and enrichment opportunities with qualifications, further study and career pathways, including opportunities in the creative industries. As the programme develops, NCAE wants to hear from schools, teachers and arts organisations. A dedicated website is expected to launch soon, providing information on the programme and its further initiatives starting over the next few months.
NCAE will also create an extensive engagement programme, through which education and cultural partners can share their perspectives on what high-quality arts education looks like in schools.
Dr Steven Berryman, NCAE Executive Director, said: “I am honoured to lead the National Centre for Arts Education which will champion arts education and address inequality of opportunity, ensuring all young people are encouraged and empowered to hone their creative talents, regardless of their background.
“With falling numbers of young people engaging with creative subjects, it is imperative that we place renewed emphasis on the importance of arts and music educational pathways. I am excited to work in partnership with schools and the cultural sector to ensure an excellent arts education is possible for every school.”
More than 400 schools in disadvantaged areas to see enrichment opportunities
Hundreds of thousands of young people in disadvantaged communities will get the chance to join sports teams, learn an instrument, or take part in debating and outdoor adventures, helping them build confidence, develop new skills and stay engaged both in and out of education. More than 400 secondary schools will benefit from tailored support backed by £22.5 million through the government’s Enrichment Expansion programme.
The investment will 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 speaks to the findings of the State of the Nation survey of more than 14,000 young people, which found that young people want safe spaces, trusted adults, better mental health support and greater access to enriching activities.
Without access to enrichment, too many young people miss out on the confidence, skills and sense of belonging that help them succeed. Those least likely to participate are also more likely to become not in education, employment or training (NEET).
In response, the government launched the Youth Matters Strategy in December last year and committed to halving the participation gap in enriching activities between disadvantaged young people and their peers by 2035.
The Enrichment Expansion programme’s additional funding and support is part of this solution, helping those schools facing the greatest challenges to deliver a wide range of high-quality enrichment opportunities.
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.
As part of the funding, schools will receive tailored support to strengthen and grow their enrichment provision. The investment will support schools to deliver the opportunities outlined in the government’s new Enrichment Benchmarks, announced earlier this year, which provide practical guidance to help every child access high-quality enrichment opportunities.
apetito publishes new report on school meals
School meals provider apetito has launched a new market research report exploring the expectations and priorities of pupils, parents and decision-makers across the sector for the future of school food. The report reveals a significant gap between children’s appetite for school meals and their enthusiasm for what’s on the menu, with only a third (36%) of children looking forward to eating the dishes being served. It also highlights a growing need to move school food provision beyond simply
meeting nutritional standards and towards delivering enjoyable mealtime experiences with food that children genuinely want to eat. The report explores the expectations of children and parents around school meals and provides valuable insight for schools into the role that taste, familiar flavours and food presentation play in children’s school
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www.education-today.co.uk
meal experience. It also highlights how schools can enhance the dining environment to support children’s engagement with and enjoyment of school food.
While the introduction of new School Food Standards presents an important opportunity to improve children’s nutrition, the report discusses why nutritional standards must be considered alongside the wider mealtime experience, as children will only benefit from these improvements if the food being served is actually eaten.
Rupert Weber, General Manager of Education at apetito, said: “This market research report provides important insights into the current state of school food provision, spotlighting the priorities, challenges and opportunities facing schools today.
“By better understanding the expectations and experiences of pupils, parents and schools, the sector can continue to improve school meals. We’re committed to supporting schools in delivering mealtime experiences that are engaging and enjoyable for children, ensuring they get the full nutritional and wellbeing benefits from every meal.”
Download the full report here: u
apetito.link/school-meals-research October 2026
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