Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to encourage and support maintained secondary schools in enabling all pupils, including those who are not academically talented, to develop the confidence and interpersonal skills that will help them towards success and wellbeing in adult life; and what steps they plan to take in the future.

We have high aspirations for all children. In order to achieve their potential all children need strong academic skills, but also a strong set of complementary skills that will set them up for life in modern Britain. Schools should balance the provision of a rigorous academic curriculum with a broad range of additional activities, such as sport, volunteering and cultural activities, to develop character, resilience, confidence and interpersonal skills.

The Department for Education has committed £3.5 million as part of the Character Innovation Fund (announced in spring) to support 14 projects designed to help create a generation of confident, resilient young people. We have also made
£1 million available to the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) to expand research into the most effective ways that character can be developed.

The DfE has invested over £460 million from 2012-2016 in a diverse portfolio of music and arts education programmes that improve access to the arts for all children regardless of their background and to develop talent across the country. This includes support for music education hubs which provides opportunities for children and young people to play in ensembles and develop singing strategies. Through playing a musical instrument, young people can learn perseverance and discipline and develop confidence, team-working and leadership skills.

Through the primary PE and sport premium, over £300 million of ring-fenced funding was paid direct to schools across academic years 2013/14 and 2014/15 to improve PE and sport. The Government has committed to continue this funding of £150 million a year until 2020. Independent research found that over 70% of schools used the funding to provide more extra-curricular activities and offer a wider range of sports. Through competitive sport young people can learn teamwork, perseverance, self-control, and sportsmanship.