Thurrock Trailblazer Evaluation 2015/16

Amongst the 28 schools, three broad categories of engagement
emerged:
1. Those who believe that arts and cultural experiences are desirable
but expendable when time and resources are needed elsewhere.
In these schools, Cultural Champions often struggle to overcome
practical obstacles.
2. Those who place priority on the benefits that arts and cultural
activities can bring to learning in the core subjects, including the
development of ‘soft skills’ that support positive behaviours for
learning. These schools are integrating Trailblazer into the wider
curriculum and targeting particular student groups and learning
needs. Cultural Champions are engaging staff by presenting an
instrumental case for higher attainment.
3. Those who view arts & culture as an entitlement and prioritise the
unique contribution to personal and community development. In
these schools the Cultural Champions present a persuasive case
fueled by their strong personal conviction.
How is the programme building capacity in schools?
The Cultural Champions are essential to the success of the programme.
They act as the gatekeepers for their schools. Over two years Trailblazer
has established a cultural leadership programme that has had a profound
effect on many of the Cultural Champions.
At the beginning of the year, despite a clear description being provided,
many of the Cultural Champions were unsure of what their role would
entail, and lacked confidence in their ability to influence policy and
practice within their schools. Over the course of the year, confidence has
grown, along with the ambition and commitment of many of the Cultural
Champions.
“The highlight? Really gaining an in depth understanding of why arts and
cultural learning is the best mechanism for learning anything and
everything and making that happen within our school.”
Amelia Wood, Deputy Cultural Champion, Little Thurrock Primary School
This has been observed in the nature and quality of discussion during
Cultural Champion sessions and one to one interviews, where language
shifted from focus on barriers to reflecting on how to influence. All of the
Cultural Champions attended Artsmark training and submitted a case
study examining the impact of Trailblazer in their schools.
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