Park View School in South Shields to benefit from part of £22.5 million Government funding for 'enrichment'
The school will receive a portion of the money to help broaden opportunities for pupils with more activities set to take place, ranging from music groups to football teams.
An alternative education provision in South Shields has been awarded a slice of the Government’s £22.5 million investment to expand access to enrichment opportunities.
Park View School, on Temple Park Road, is the alternative education service at the Beacon Centre, Mortimer Community College and St Wilfrid's RC College.
The Government announced the £22.5 million investment and tailored support that will benefit more than 400 schools in disadvantaged communities through the government’s Enrichment Expansion programme on September 18.
The money will be used to give hundreds of thousands more young people 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.
The funding 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 Government says that 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), making these opportunities a vital part of helping young people stay engaged, raise their aspirations and prepare for future success.
The Enrichment Expansion programme’s additional funding is funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), delivered in partnership with the Department for Education (DfE).
“Too many children have missed out”
Schools Minister Georgia Gould said: “A great education is about more than what happens in the classroom. It’s about the football team, the school play, the debate competition, the volunteering project and the outdoor adventure that help young people discover who they are and what they can achieve.
“But for too long, too many children have missed out on those opportunities because of where they live or the barriers they face.
This investment will help hundreds of thousands more young people access the activities that build confidence, spark ambition and open up opportunities for the future, helping more children stay on track in education and fulfil their potential.”
Emma Lewell, MP for South Shields, said: “Pleased to say that Park View School, the Alternative Education Service at the Beacon Centre, Mortimer Community College and St Wilfrid's RC College will receive some of the £22.5 million investment announced by the DfE to expand access to enrichment opportunities.
“This funding will give students in these settings 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.”