New DfE Enrichment Framework Creates Opportunities for Cultural Partnerships

Lucy Marder (SCEP Lead) reflects on the new Department for `Education Enrichment Framework.

The DfE (Department for Education)’s new Enrichment Framework, published in June 2026, is non-statutory guidance designed to help schools and colleges plan and improve enrichment opportunities for all young people. For SCEP members, the framework is particularly significant because it identifies Arts and Culture as a core area of enrichment and places strong emphasis on partnership working, creating new opportunities for collaboration between schools, colleges and cultural organisations. 

The framework is structured around eight benchmarks covering areas such as strategic planning, accessibility, partnerships, impact and continuous improvement, encouraging schools to take a more coordinated approach to enrichment. 

While the framework does not directly introduce dedicated new funding for arts and cultural activity, it is likely to become an important reference point for schools when planning personal development and enrichment provision. In parallel, through the Enrichment Expansion Programme (part of the National Youth Strategy) the DCMS (Department for Culture, Media & Sport) are procuring a delivery partner who can work across the 9 English regions and whose approach can be flexed to ensure its offer of support to schools includes 400 target schools that will be funded to provide an enhanced enrichment offer.

Schools and cultural partners can access the framework, benchmarks, self-assessment tools and supporting resources on GOV.UK through: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-enrichment-framework-for-schools-and-colleges.

The Cultural Learning Alliance have published a handy timeline that puts the Enrichment Framework in the context of the Government’s wider education reforms: https://www.culturallearningalliance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/CLA-Education-Reform-Timeline.pdf.