Push to broaden school/arts partnerships in London

Schools and arts organisations in London are being encouraged to connect via a new online platform. ANDtogether will share news and opportunities with teachers, and provide them with a searchable online database of cultural organisations in the capital.

The website, launched in Beta, has been developed by the Arts Council England Bridge organisation for London, A New Direction (AND).

It invites arts and cultural organisations to upload a profile page to the site so that teachers can find their details.

AND hopes that the site will make it easier for schools to find out about the full breadth of London’s cultural offer. “Google is too big for time-stretched teachers, who are looking for opportunities or partners, but might not be sure what they're looking for to begin with.

“We urge teachers to look for the more suitable, interesting partners, rather than the closest.”

Similarly, it says arts organisations “often market a set offer to a relatively small pool of schools, based on those they have worked with or had contact with before”.

The new platform aims to “improve communication from both sides, and help open up new opportunities for all young people in London schools”.