Are You Getting Value for Money from Your Theatre in Education Provider?

Theatre in Education offers an engaging way to explore important issues, develop social and emotional skills, help prevent harm and signpost young people to local and national support services.

However, delivering theatre productions across schools requires a significant investment. Local authorities need to know that the funding they commit is making a difference and providing good value for money.

So, when choosing a Theatre in Education provider, what should commissioners be looking for?

1. Does the company provide workshops?

A theatre performance can be a powerful way to introduce a subject, but what happens afterwards is just as important.

Workshops give young people the opportunity to explore the issues raised, ask questions, reflect on their own experiences and develop their understanding.

At Loudmouth, all our delivery formats include an interactive element, ranging from small-group workshops to audience Q&As with characters. Each programme has clear learning objectives, practical messages and information about where young people can find support.

2. Does the company provide ongoing support and resources?

The learning shouldn't end when the performers leave the school.

Ask providers what resources they offer to help teachers prepare for a visit and continue exploring the subject afterwards.

Lesson plans, staff training and resources for parents and carers can all help schools reinforce important messages and make the most of the initial investment.

Loudmouth provides access to over 150 lesson plans covering a range of RSHE topics, alongside staff training, parent resources and safeguarding information.

3. Does the company have clear safeguarding procedures?

Safeguarding should be a fundamental consideration when commissioning any organisation to work with children and young people.

A performance exploring sensitive issues may prompt a young person to recognise something concerning in their own life or disclose an experience of harm.

Providers should have clear safeguarding procedures, appropriately trained staff and established arrangements for working with schools to ensure concerns are passed on and recorded appropriately.

All Loudmouth delivery staff receive Level 3 safeguarding training and understand how to respond to concerns and disclosures, working closely with schools and their safeguarding teams.

4. Does the content reflect current guidance?

Theatre in Education is most valuable when it complements the work schools are already doing.

Programmes should support the relevant Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) curriculum and take account of current Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance.

It's worth asking providers how frequently they review their content and how they respond to changes in guidance, legislation and the issues affecting young people.

At Loudmouth, our programmes are researched, developed and regularly reviewed to reflect current guidance and emerging safeguarding concerns.

5. Does the company signpost to local support services?

Theatre in Education can help young people recognise situations or behaviours that may be unhealthy or unsafe, either in their own lives or those of people they care about.

Knowing where to get help is therefore an essential part of the learning.

Providers should be able to identify appropriate local and national services and ensure that young people leave sessions knowing how to access support.

Loudmouth works with commissioning authorities to identify relevant services and incorporate these into workshops and supporting resources, including information cards linking to further help.

6. Does the company provide meaningful evaluation?

How do you know whether your investment has made a difference?

Simply counting the number of pupils who attended isn't enough. Commissioners should also be interested in what young people have learned, whether their confidence has increased and whether they know where to seek help.

Ask providers how they measure outcomes, gather feedback and report their findings.

Loudmouth provides evaluation reports that help commissioners understand the reach and impact of their investment, including changes in knowledge, confidence and awareness of support services.

This information can also help inform future commissioning decisions and identify opportunities for improvement.

7. Does the company manage the school bookings?

This is an often overlooked consideration, but it can make a significant difference to the true cost of a project.

Contacting schools, arranging dates, coordinating performances, managing changes and ensuring the right pupils are reached can take considerable staff time.

Some providers expect the commissioning organisation to undertake much of this work, creating additional costs that may not be immediately obvious.

Loudmouth has been organising tours into schools since 1994. Commissioners can identify their target areas, schools or age groups, and our team can manage the booking process, from initial contact through to delivery.

This helps reduce the administrative burden on local authority staff and makes it easier to coordinate delivery across multiple schools.

8. Does the company understand your local priorities and target audiences?

A strong Theatre in Education provider should offer more than a standard, off-the-shelf programme.

Local authorities commission work for a reason. This may be to address a particular safeguarding issue, support a local strategy, target specific age groups or reach schools and communities where the need is greatest.

It is worth asking whether the provider understands your aims and can tailor their work accordingly.

Can they adapt content to reflect local concerns? Can they work with the right age groups and settings? Can they help ensure delivery reaches the children and young people you most want to support?

At Loudmouth, we work closely with commissioners to understand their priorities and shape delivery around them. This might include targeting particular schools, tailoring signposting to local support services or aligning programmes with a local authority's wider safeguarding, health or violence prevention strategy.

This helps make sure the work is not only engaging, but also relevant, targeted and aligned with the outcomes the commission is intended to achieve.

Looking beyond the cost of a performance

When comparing Theatre in Education providers, it is worth considering everything included in the price.

A lower-cost performance may initially appear attractive, but the real value comes from the quality of the learning, the support provided to schools, the outcomes achieved, the time and resources required to manage the project and how well the delivery aligns with local priorities.

A good Theatre in Education provider should offer more than a memorable performance. They should be a reliable delivery partner, helping commissioners achieve their objectives and demonstrate the value of their investment.

Loudmouth Education and Training has worked with schools, local authorities and other commissioning organisations since 1994, using drama and interactive learning to explore safeguarding, relationships, health and wellbeing.

Find out more about our programmes and commissioned projects call us on 0121 446 4880.