Creative Connections

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new schools partnership programme, Creative Connections.

Creative Connections is a new, fully funded scheme, designed to increase engagement with theatre and storytelling in schools. Using our learning and expertise from projects exploring literacy, oracy and storytelling, we hope to work with schools to find ways to support curriculum learning through engagement with theatre.

Creative Connections is generously supported by The Garek Trust.

In its pilot year, we will work with 6 schools across Merton and Croydon to provide access to live theatre for children and arts-based training for teachers, as well as shaping the future of Polka’s shows and schools programmes.

This year, we are excited to be working with:

• Harris Primary Academy Purley Way
• Hillcross Primary School
• John Wood School and Nursery
• Malmesbury Primary School
• Merton Abbey Primary School
• Morden Primary School

Elisha Gray, KS1 Lead at Harris Primary Academy Haling Park, said: “We are thrilled to be one of the first schools taking part in The Polka Theatre’s Creative Connections project! With reading as a key priority in our curriculum, this is a wonderful opportunity for our children to experience the magic of storytelling brought to life through drama. We’re equally excited about the valuable CPD (Continuing Professional Development) opportunities this project offers for our staff — helping us grow as educators while inspiring a lifelong love of reading in our pupils.”

Schools have been selected to take part in Creative Connections who face the greatest barriers to accessing the arts – such as high levels of Pupil Premium, SEND (Special Educatioal Needs and Disabilites) or EAL (English as an Additional Language)  – and who have made a commitment to provide cultural experiences for their students, whether that be through a focus on growing oracy skills, or a prioritisation of mental health and wellbeing.

By taking part in Creative Connections, these six schools will each be provided with:

• 1 free ticket to Polka for every child
• 3 Polka Teacher CPD days based on Polka’s leading schools programmes, covering Storytelling, Oracy and Literacy
• 2 whole school story assemblies
• Tailored teaching resources

Alongside this, schools will have the opportunity to have a say in the work we produce by taking part in our Teacher Advisory Group, R&Ds (Research and Development) or feedback sessions.

Michael Bradley, Headteacher at Merton Abbey Primary School, said: “We are excited to take part in Creative Connections because we want to develop our creative partnership with Polka. Storytelling and drama are great ways to engage children and drive their learning forward; we want to learn from the Polka’s expertise in these.”

We are looking forward to growing our relationship with the teachers, staff and students at our partner schools over the next year, and working with them to develop this exciting new schools programme. Following this pilot year, we hope to be able to open applications for Creative Connections 26-27 in Summer 2026.

“At John Wood School and Nursery, we really care about providing our children with a variety of enriching experiences. We are so excited to join the Creative Connections partnership as we believe it will support our children to become more confident, resilient and collaborative learners. Thank you Polka Theatre for this opportunity!” – Shareen Ffrench, Year 6 Teacher and Maths Lead, John Wood School and Nursery.

Read more about it here.