It is a legal requirement for all schools to promote the cultural development of their pupils through the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development education requirements. Guidance from the Department for Education outlines the minimum levels of cultural activities that pupils should experience. While these are voluntary recommendations, they provide a benchmark for boards to reflect on.
Cultural education can enhance aspiration and ambition, develop communication and build discipline and confidence in young people. Our collection of cultural education guidance for governing boards explores the benefits of arts, culture and creativity and explains how you can positively influence provision in your school or trust.
Arts, culture and creativity: a guide for governing boards
This guide provides an introduction to cultural education, outlining how you can work strategically to achieve your ambition for all pupils to receive a rich and diverse cultural education. The guide recommends the following approach:
- make cultural education part of your vision for the future
- use your vision to develop strategic goals and policy
- engage stakeholders in a whole school approach
- invest sufficient resources
Download arts, culture and creativity guide for governing boards (PDF)
We recommend that boards also refer to our Being Strategic guidance; a framework for creating, monitoring and reviewing strategy.
Subject-specific guides: drama, dance, music, and art, craft and design
Governing boards have an important responsibility to ensure their school or trust offers pupils a broad and rich curriculum which includes diverse and wide-ranging art forms and cultural experiences. Our subject-specific guides outline the characteristics and enablers of high quality provision. The guides also provide recommendations for monitoring provision in your school or trust.
Download drama guide for governing boards (PDF)
Download dance guide for governing boards (PDF)
Download music guide for governing boards (PDF)
Download art, craft and design guide for governing boards (PDF)
Arts and cultural education for school improvement
Subscribers to NGA Learning Link can also access an e-learning module which has been designed to help governing boards understand how arts and cultural education can be used for school improvement.
Further reading
Creativity in the curriculum: guest blogs
Are you an NGA member?
Our Knowledge Centre contains 100s of resources available exclusively for members. If you’re a governor, trustee, clerk or governance professional, you can subscribe as an individual or as a board to use our guidance, templates and model policies. Other member benefits include networking events, newsletters, and our Governing Matters magazine. Find out more and sign up here.