Creative education in London gets £3.6m boost

Primary school children across London will benefit from a cultural arts programme after a charity working to help them develop their creativity received a £3.6m funding boost.

A New Direction’s Primary Arts programme will open to applications from across the city this week after the funding award was rubberstamped by members of the City of London Corporation’s Education Board.

The programme aims to increase access to high quality, inspiring arts, cultural and creative opportunities for children and staff in London’s primary schools and primary special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) settings.

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It will be delivered annually across four academic years in partnership with a range of cultural organisations, giving schools free opportunities to unlock the creative potential and skills of both children and teachers.

Steve Moffitt, CEO of A New Direction, said the Primary Arts programme was devised in response to the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation report – The Arts in Schools: Foundations for the Future, published in March last year, which highlights the various barriers that have discouraged and disallowed cultural education and arts in schools to thrive.

“We are fully aware of the difficulties schools are facing financially, with staff retention and the wellbeing of both pupils and staff," he said.

"This is why, through Primary Arts, we are building on the excellent work London’s educators are doing by offering free opportunities to support wellbeing, confidence, personal interest, and professional development.

“We are grateful for the generous support of The City of London Corporation City Educational Trust Fund. We hope that this three-year programme will be one of many that start to address the findings of the Gulbenkian report.”

The programme is designed to include children from Reception to Year 6 as well as their educators.

'Available to everyone'

Pupils will have a chance to experience a range of activities including in-school performances, cultural experiences across theatre, film and visual arts at different London venues.

Chair of the City Corporation’s Education Board, Naresh Sonpar, said: “The City of London Corporation is committed to preparing young people to flourish in a rapidly changing world by providing exceptional education, cultural and creative learning, and the skills which link to the world of work.

“And that is why members from the education board are delighted to support A New Direction’s programme of learning.

“First class learning is something that should be available to everyone no matter their background or ability. Achieving greater social mobility is a central part of this, and something we wish to see championed at every level of the City Corporation.