Creative Partnerships schools have higher GCSE results and lower levels of truancy, says new research
16 Dec 2008
Classroom creativity
Schools involved with Creative Partnerships, the national creative learning programme, have reduced truancy by up to a fifth and pupils have gained better exam results by up to two and a half grades at GCSE, according to new research by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), published today.
Creative Partnerships is the Government's flagship creative learning programme, which uses artists and creative professionals to work with schools in deprived areas across the whole curriculum. The programme aims to develop the skills of young people across England, raising their aspirations and achievements, and opening up more opportunities for their futures.
The research concludes “that Creative Partnerships is contributing to improved levels of attainment” and shows:
- Young people who have attended Creative Partnerships activities made, on average, the equivalent of 2.5 grades better progress in GCSE than similar young people in other schools.
- At key stage 3, for all four outcome measures considered (average key stage 3 score, English, mathematics and science), the progress of young people known to have taken part in Creative Partnerships was statistically significantly greater than that of similar pupils nationally.
- At key stage 4, for four of the outcome measures considered (total GCSE point score, best 8 point score, English and science), the progress of young people known to have taken part in Creative Partnerships was statistically significantly greater than that of similar young people nationally.
In a second report, the NFER analysed school attendance rates and concluded that “engagement with Creative Partnerships was associated with an educationally significant reduction in total absence rates in primary schools”. The report shows:
- Participation in Creative Partnerships was associated with a reduction in total absence rates in primary schools and this reduction increased over a period of years as Creative Partnerships became more established in these schools.
- The difference was sufficiently large to be considered ‘educationally significant’ after three years.
- This difference amounts to a relative reduction of about a fifth in absence rates within Creative Partnerships schools over a period of four years
Paul Collard, Creative Partnerships National Director, said:
“This research shows the impact that creative learning can have on pupils’ exam results. For many of the schools we work with, tackling truancy and poor pupil behaviour is the first step to improving results. This research confirms that using artists and creative professionals can inspire children to turn up to classes and motivate them to fulfill their potential in class.”
Impact Of Creative Partnerships On Young People's Attainment (Dec 2008) (1.1 MB)
Impact Of Creative Partnerships On Young People's Behaviour (Dec 2008) (200 KB)
