New £200k DfE fund to encourage partnerships with private schools and universities

07/06/19

Schools Week has reported that a new £200,000 fund will be announced today to help state schools, private schools and universities create or expand partnerships – but recipients will have to stump up some of their own cash.

Schools and universities can bid for up to £20,000 to build partnerships, but the Department for Education said any bid of over £5,000 will have to match the funding with their own money.

The DfE said the match funding requirement was to ensure “pupils continue to benefit beyond the existence of the fund”. The total fund itself is only £200,000, so it is unlikely many will receive the maximum amount.

Academies minister Lord Agnew is set to announce the fund at the Schools Together annual conference later today. It comes after the DfE published guidance about partnerships in November to encourage more providers to work together.

The government considered forcing universities and private schools to work with state schools in 2016, but these plans were eventually shelved in favour of a more collaborative approach.

The Independent Schools Council must publish details of partnerships between its members and state schools.  Its report showed 1,142 independent schools are in partnerships, with the most common collaboration being sharing sports facilities – including swimming pools and tennis courts – and coaches or taking part in matches (1,031 schools).

Click HERE for the full article, courtesy of Schools Week.