A WORCESTER-based theatre company has said it is ready to help schools meet the Government's new objective to provide all children with five hours of cultural activity per week.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families said it wants to see all schools embrace the role the arts and creativity can play in children's lives.

There are to be £25 million pilot schemes in 10 areas - with local authorities invited to bid to take part - involving visits to top theatre shows, galleries and museums.

C&T theatre company, based at the University of Worcester, said it was ready to help schools meet the new challenges.

"While the announcement is a big challenge for Worcestershire's schools it is also an exciting one and one we think we can help deliver," said Dr Paul Sutton, the company's artistic director.

"Our network is proving an ideal route for schools to collaborate with an experienced and highly professional arts organisation and bring young people into direct contact with exactly the kind of quality cultural experience the Government is recommending."

Mr Sutton said the theatre company's work had recently been endorsed by the Arts Council for England, and said it was leading a major Government project on Young Peoples' Participatory Theatre.

He said: "C&T's approach mixes ICT, drama and learning to embed creativity across the whole school curriculum, not just in the performing arts.

"It has also been applauded for the way it empowers young people." In Worcestershire Bishop Perowne CE College is part of C&T's network linking with other schools which are in Yorkshire, Bradford, Birmingham, Brighton and Reading as well as with schools in Africa.

"We are always keen to hear from teachers who want to find out more about our work, and with the announcement we hope schools will see this as an ideal opportunity to signal to children and parents that they are embracing the important role creativity will have in young peoples' lives," Mr Sutton said.