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All statutory guidance and legislation published on this site continues to reflect the current legal position unless indicated otherwise.
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Arts and Culture in BSF

This section provides information and guidance for anyone working with or looking to know more about culture and the BSF programme.

The information will be relevant to a range of stakeholders including local authorities, schools, learners, artists, cultural learning providers, cultural organisations and community groups. The following sections will help you to:

  • articulate the value of arts and culture in delivering education, social and community outcomes and create a transformational vision for your local authority or school;
  • strive for good quality, innovative designs of school arts facilities;
  • promote joined up and strategic working within and across local authorities;
  • encourage community access to school facilities, growing and sustaining community activity;
  • carry out effective engagement of and consultation with young people, teachers, parents and the local community during the BSF process; and
  • represent the cultural sector, establishing partnerships and making the most of the opportunity that the BSF programme presents.

From 2009 onwards the role of culture in education transformation and community engagement will need to be formally considered as part of the BSF process. Local authorities and schools will be asked to plan how culture will impact on their projects, from the delivery of their core curriculum, social, wellbeing and Every Child Matters outcomes, to family support, community delivery and change management.

The arts, culture and cultural learning also have a clear role to play for authorities in earlier waves of BSF. It is recommended that authorities currently in the BSF programme adapt and adopt the processes set out in this section to fit with the stage they are currently at.

This website and the associated resources should be read alongside the Partnerships for Schools publication: Requirements and guidance on culture for local authorities entering the second half of the Building Schools for the Future programme.

Partnerships for Schools is committed to embedding arts and culture within the BSF programme. Our work in this area is supported by Arts Council England, The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT).