Funding a visit
An in-school performance comes from the school or department budget. Here are the rules and guidance that help make the case.
Pupil Premium
The Department for Education’s guidance on using Pupil Premium lists arts participation among the wider approaches schools can fund, and allows whole-class approaches that benefit all pupils, as long as the spending is evidence-informed. In 2026–27 the secondary rate is £1,100 per eligible pupil.
Read the DfE guidance on using Pupil Premium
Why a school can’t charge parents for this
Under DfE rules on charging for school activities, schools can’t charge for education during school hours or for activities that are part of a GCSE syllabus. They can only ask for voluntary contributions. That’s why set-text trips rely on parents, and why an in-school visit, paid by the school, reaches every pupil.
Read the DfE guidance on charging for school activities
Enrichment and personal development
A live performance gives you evidence for your enrichment offer and for Ofsted’s personal development judgement, as well as supporting attainment in English Literature.
Check Pupil Premium rate and guidance links before launch (2027–28 figures)