Key information
Who it's for
Organisations, charities and schools testing innovative approaches that address emerging needs or gaps in education provision.
What it will achieve
New learning models, evidence for change and insights that can inform practice and policy.
Typical grant size
£25,000–£30,000 per year
Typical grant duration
1-3 years
Who it's for
Organisations, charities and schools testing innovative approaches that address emerging needs or gaps in education provision.
What it will achieve
New learning models, evidence for change and insights that can inform practice and policy.
Typical grant size
£25,000–£30,000 per year
Typical grant duration
1-3 years
What we fund
Through our New Ideas funding theme, we support bold and innovative early-stage work that explores new ways of teaching, learning, and supporting young people.
This might include work that uses new technologies or proposes creative solutions to persistent educational barriers. Or it might apply tried-and-tested methods in a new way, to address emerging challenges faced by young Londoners.
By supporting these initiatives, we’re contributing to broader changes in education policy and provision, ensuring institutions are better prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
The focus is on learning from innovation and capturing insights to improve how education is delivered in London and beyond.
The change we want to see
- The introduction of new and groundbreaking approaches to learning, with the potential to enhance and influence education policy and practice.
- New work that focuses on identified needs and gaps in statutory provision.
- Increased institutional readiness for future challenges and future opportunities
- Developments in best practice and/or policy
How you might do it
- Projects that are pioneering and original in their approach to teaching or learning.
- Projects addressing an identified need within a geographical area or learning establishment that are new and innovative in context.
- Projects that integrate new or future technologies and education, such as Artificial Intelligence and new technologies.
- Projects aimed at improving literacy and numeracy outcomes for primary and secondary school pupils.
Who we've funded
Projects we've funded that fit into this theme:
Scarabeus Aerial Theatre: Flying Into Physics
In 2021, The Portal Trust awarded £30,000 over three years to Scarabeus Aerial Theatre for their ‘Flying Into Physics’ programme – an exciting science project helping disadvantaged 9-10 year olds learn about physics through aerial theatre.
We visited a session at a primary school in North London to see students flying through the air and learning about gravity, air resistance and friction.
Oxford Gardens Primary School: GRT Learning Mentor
Over the past year, The Portal Trust has helped to support the GRT (Gypsy, Roma and Traveller) Learning Mentor role at Oxford Gardens Primary School in North Kensington.
Terry King has carried out the role since 2018 and has built a strong relationship with the children, parents and school over the years. We met with Terry to discuss his role and the difference it has made for the children.
Start your application
Find out if your organisation is eligible to apply for funding by taking our short quiz. If you pass the quiz, you'll be asked to complete our Expression of Interest form.