A new initiative has been set up to encourage more state and independent schools to form partnerships.
The London Brokerage pitches itself as the “go-to resource” for institutions looks to invest in a “cross-sector partnership”.
Developed by Generating Genius as part of the Christ the King College LSEF (London Schools Excellence Fund) Project, the brokerage charts the fortunes of partnerships that have already been set up in the capital.
Dr Tony Sewell, founder of the charitable incorporated organisation and a former school teacher, was quoted by TES as saying that the successes associated with this project show that the “Berlin Wall” between state and private schools in London has been “razed to the ground”.
“For the first time, we can see the extent of the work going on between schools and colleges in the capital,” he continued, pointing to the information-rich content that can be found on The London Brokerage website.
He later added: “For the schools we have focused on, the relationship permeates every level of school life, for teachers and students.”
“It’s amazing to see schools sharing teaching staff, carrying out joint research projects and allocating very considerable resources to maintaining and expanding the partnerships.”
One of the partnerships is the King’s College School Wimbledon Hub. It started back in 2003, with the leaders of King’s College School keen to engage other schools in its borough to share best practice.
Part of the inspiration was the London Challenge, a scheme that challenged stakeholders in the city to get their act together and transform the standards of state education in the capital.
The hub has been a huge success, so much so that in the 12 years since it began, it has gone from strength to strength. It now has 31 schools in the partnership.
“It has allowed King’s to be a more outward-looking school,” he told The London Brokerage.
“We are now an additional educational resource in the area, and the partnerships have become part of the ethos of the school. Several of the partner schools are in Mitcham, which is one of the most deprived boroughs in south London.”
