Policy and Practice Round-Up
29 November 2010
Earlier in November the Secretary of State for Education allocated £110 million to establish an
education endowment fund (EEF) designed to raise standards in under-performing schools.The EEF will distribute money to local authorities, academy sponsors, charities and other groups that bring forward innovative proposals to improve performance in challenging schools. Those bidding for funds from the EEF will have to outline how their proposals will raise attainment. Bidders must also demonstrate how they will be held accountable for the success of their proposals.The EEF will be administered at arm's length from ministers. The team administering the fund will be appointed following an open competition.Funding for projects will come from returns on the EEF’s investment and fund managers will be able to draw down some of the capital from the total sum each year. The independent organisation that runs the EEF will also be expected to attract additional contributions from other organisations and philanthropists to add to the fund.This fund is being established from the money that was set aside when the Government took the decision not to increase the number of free school meals.The CLA urges cultural learning organisations and partnerships across the country to put pen to paper and get ready to submit their bids.Twelve groups including Bolton Lads and Girls Club, the Football League Trust and the Challenge Network have been selected to run the first National Citizen Service
(NCS) pilot projects. Here at the CLA we hope that arts and cultural organisations will be able to work with the pilots to weave cultural learning into the offer, as in the longer term the Government aims for every young person to have the chance to take part in this scheme.Musical Futures have accepted 20 young people, from ages 12 to 17, to become Musical Futures Young Champions. The Champions will be based in schools across the country and from January 2011 the young people will complete fortnightly mentoring tasks through the NUMU, providing advice, support and guidance to Musical Futures students in other schools.Responsibilityfor important work with regional museums and libraries is likely to transfer to Arts Council England (ACE) following the abolition of the MLA, announced Culture Minister Ed Vaizey.The principle being discussed is for many of the key functions currently undertaken by the MLA to transfer to ACE by the end of March 2012, subject to agreement from their National Council and agreement on budgets. Provided this agreement is reached it is likely that ACE will take on responsibility for:
- management and delivery of the Renaissance in the Regions programme.
- museums and libraries development work including museum accreditation and designation
- a number of statutory cultural property functions, including export licensing for cultural objects and the associated Export Reviewing Committee, the Government Indemnity Scheme and the Acceptance in Lieu scheme