Connecting with schools

A review of the extent to which London’s schools are engaging with cultural organisations has revealed a patchy and fragmented picture. Barriers to schools embracing the arts include organising and timetabling activities, cost, transport and lack of clear information about the cultural opportunities available. The report finds that, to encourage schools to have more engagement, cultural organisations will have to become more adept at communicating the quality and relevance of their offer and how it fits with schools’ needs. The review was commissioned by A New Direction, the London agency for connecting schools and young people with arts and culture, in partnership with Arts Council England and the Mayor of London. Conducted by the National Foundation for Educational Research, it also found that schools are generally keen to work with the cultural sector to develop a positive attitude towards the arts among young people, but the support of a school’s senior management, and having a key member of staff enthusiastic about leading this area of work, is crucial. Further information is now being gathered from a survey of headteachers in all London schools and detailed consultations in ten of them.