Academic partnerships Academic partnerships are wide-ranging in nature and effectively demonstrate how collaboration between state and independent schools benefits all involved. Where possible, such partnerships moved online during the pandemic as schools took steps to continue these important educational opportunities and minimise learning loss. Abingdon School, in Oxfordshire, along with Radley College, John Mason School, Larkmead School and Fitzharrys School, developed an online coaching programme between lower sixth students and younger pupils, which saw Year 12 students taking part in four weeks of leadership training with the Oxfordshire Youth charity, followed by three weeks of coaching training by colleagues at Desborough College. Year 9 and 10 students were subsequently paired up with their lower sixth coaches – mainly from another school – and they embarked on a sixweek programme of weekly meetings via Zoom where academic targets were discussed. The success of the partnership – at the end of the programme, more than 85% of participants said they would recommend the project to a peer – has led to its continuation this year. ‘Thinking About’ is a joint project between Dulwich College and the Southwark Schools’ Learning Partnership. Through a series of ‘beyond the curriculum’ live talks and discussions, young people from across the community engage with topics and themes that inspire, complement, and provide real life context to in-class learning. The partnership project’s webinar format has been particularly beneficial, as it has provided an alternative pathway for the more introverted pupils to get involved. Having heard from a diverse range of speakers - for example, Afrikan Boy talking about music, David Lammy MP discussing identity and Dr Adele Nasti speaking about engineering - schools and pupils have already been coming forward with ideas for future talks.
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