The Office for Students (OfS) is awarding £9.6 million in funding
to improve teaching and access to performing arts courses at
specialist higher education providers across England.
The OfS has also announced £16 million of recurrent funding to
expand the development and delivery of other higher education
qualifications. This consists of £8 million to support the
development of Level 6 degree apprenticeship training programmes
and £8 million to increase the provision of Level 4 and 5
qualifications.
The funding for performing arts courses is being distributed to
15 specialist higher education providers on the basis of a
formula, for the academic years 2022-23 to 2026-27. Of these, six
will receive the maximum amount of £1 million per annum.
This funding is designed to improve access and teaching resources
for contemporary music, drama and dance courses, and will
support:
· improved delivery of
teaching and learning to students
· development of
partnerships with other higher education providers, nationally
and internationally, or relevant industries to improve study and
career opportunities for students
· access to specialist
performing arts education for students from underrepresented
groups
· provision of
specialist equipment for students, such as musical instruments,
costumes or computing equipment.
British and Irish Modern Music (BIMM) University Limited, Leeds
Conservatoire, The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts
(LIPA), Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, and Rose
Bruford College of Theatre and Performance are among those that
have been awarded funding.
Susan Lapworth, chief executive of the OfS, said:
‘The performing arts make a significant economic and cultural
contribution to society. They enrich lives and create tens of
thousands of jobs across the UK. Students choosing performing
arts courses develop diverse skills and have a wide range of
career opportunities. The OfS’s investment will ensure that
current and future generations of students – whatever their
background – are able to succeed during their studies and into
their careers. The small size and highly specialised approach of
the institutions we are funding play an important role in their
educational experience of students, and this funding will ensure
they can continue to deliver a high quality experience.
‘We continue to invest in alternative routes into higher
education to widen the opportunities available to every student.
Today’s investment in degree apprenticeships and Level 4 and 5
qualifications will ensure that more can be done to extend the
range of training available. We encourage universities and
colleges to continue to develop and evaluate these courses to
ensure students are equipped with the skills they need for their
first or next career.’
Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education said:
‘Degree apprenticeships offer people of all backgrounds an
alternative route to achieving their career goals than doing a
traditional three-year degree. They enable students to earn while
they learn the skills needed to build a successful career. I’m
delighted that the OfS is continuing to support and encourage HE
providers to expand their degree and degree level apprenticeship
offer.
‘It’s also great news that the OfS is providing a funding boost
to help make sure more students across the county can access high
quality creative and performing arts courses.
‘This investment will help us continue to build a skills and
apprenticeship nation and extend the ladder of opportunity to
even more people.’
ENDS
Notes
1. The Office for
Students is the independent regulator for higher education in
England. Our aim is to ensure that every student, whatever their
background, has a fulfilling experience of higher education that
enriches their lives and careers.
2. The £9.6 million funding announced
today is awarded for each of the five financial years 2022-23 to
2026-27, and is awarded to those providers that are not in
receipt of world-class provider funding. See the distribution of funding for
the 2022-23 academic year.
3. The 15 specialist higher education
providers that have been allocated funding are ACM Guildford
Limited, Backstage Academy (Training) Limited, British and Irish
Modern Music (BIMM) University Limited, The Central School of
Ballet Charitable Trust Limited, Chicken Shed Theatre Company
(Chickenshed), Court Theatre Training Company Limited, ICMP
Management Limited, Lamda Limited, Leeds Conservatoire, Liverpool
Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), National Centre for Circus
Arts, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Point Blank Music
School, Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, and Rose
Bruford College of Theatre and Performance.
4. The mid-year allocations of recurrent
funding for Level 4 and 5 qualifications and Level 6 degree
apprenticeship programmes are part of a larger package of
recurrent funding distributed by the OfS for the 2022-23 academic
year, which totals £1,373 million. See the distribution of
funding.
