Dance in schools: a new national arts centre

If you’ve ever run an after school dance club and wished more children could join, this week’s news is for you. It’s a big week for dance in schools, with a new national centre for the arts and fresh funding for enrichment. We’re also celebrating new dance teachers, and there are star names for a major ballet competition.

A new National Centre for Arts Education

The Department for Education has awarded the contract for the new National Centre for Arts Education to Etio. Arts Professional reported on 14 September that the National Centre for Arts Education contract was awarded to Etio.

One Dance UK, the subject association for dance in schools, welcomed the news on 18 September. Its article on the contract for the National Centre for Arts Education explains the Centre’s aim: to revitalise arts in schools in England, so every child can access a rich, high quality arts education. Arts Council England has been asked to help the Centre build links across the cultural education sector.

What this means for your school: dance is one of the arts subjects in scope. Keep an eye out for local partnerships with schools as the Centre gets going.

£22.5 million to expand enrichment in schools

The government announced more enriching activities for hundreds of thousands of children on 18 September. More than 400 secondary schools in disadvantaged communities will get tailored support, backed by £22.5 million through the Enrichment Expansion programme. The Youth Sport Trust will deliver it, with Enrichment Coordinators helping clusters of schools find local partners.

What this means for your school: schools will be looking for good local providers. If you’d like to run a lunchtime or after school dance club, it’s a great time to introduce yourself.

Celebrating new dance teachers

The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) held its Faculty of Education graduation at Cadogan Hall on 14 September. The RAD’s story on how it celebrates the next generation of dance teachers includes graduates from Brazil, China, Kenya, Mexico and beyond.

The RAD also marked 20 years of Step into Dance, its inclusive programme for secondary schools in London and Essex. It’s run with the Jack Petchey Foundation. It has reached more than 60,000 young people since 2006.

What this means for your school: good teacher training and inclusive dance in schools go hand in hand. Both are worth celebrating with your students.

Royal Ballet stars for The Fonteyn

The RAD announced that Royal Ballet dancers Marianna Tsembenhoi, Fumi Kaneko and Vadim Muntagirov will be guest performers at The Fonteyn 2026 final. The final of the Margot Fonteyn International Ballet Competition is on Sunday 8 November at the London Coliseum. More than 80 candidates from around the world will take part. You’ll find tickets on the RAD’s The Fonteyn page.

What this means for your school: a trip to the final could inspire your ballet students for months.

This week’s tip

Write a short, friendly email you can send to local secondary schools. Say what you teach, the ages you work with and how you keep children safe. Keep it to one paragraph, and attach a sample club plan.