Focusing on the benefits pupils can reap through studying arts subjects, this report will be useful for arts teachers looking for new evidence and research to inform their practice.
Arts education in secondary schools: effects and effectiveness
Synopsis
This large-scale study examined the effects of secondary school arts education in England and Wales and found that pupils in schools with strong programmes in arts education received many positive effects, ranging from increased arts-based knowledge to personal and social benefits in self-confidence and the development of teamwork skills.
The report argues that these results demonstrate the positive effect of arts education. It found that not only did pupils enjoy the subjects, but that they gained social and cultural knowledge, creativity and thinking skills, and communication and expressive skills which they were able to transfer to other contexts that benefited the school and local community.
The findings were based on four data sources: case studies of five secondary schools; analysis of information from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER)'s Quantitative Analysis for Self-Evaluation (QUASE) project; a survey of Year 11 pupils and schools; and interviews with employers and employees in the work sector.