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A new report by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) in England examines which students are accessing extra-curricular activities during secondary school and the long-term outcomes for them.
Extra-curricular activities are thought to provide benefits to young people through the development of soft skills, improved health, cognitive development, and establishing new friendships.
Using longitudinal data on young people in England, the study looked at data on young people who were aged 13-15 in 2013 and 2014, and then considered whether the take-up of extra-curricular activities was associated with a range of outcomes eight years later in 2021, when the young people were 21-22. The study finds that:
· Vulnerable students were less likely to attend arts and music clubs when compared to their peers. This includes students eligible for free school meals, those with lower prior attainment, and those with poorer health and special educational needs or disabilities.
· Students who attend extra-curricular clubs have a higher probability of progressing to higher education and being in employment. The association for arts and music clubs is especially strong, with the odds of progressing to higher education being 56% higher for those attending these clubs (compared to 42% for those who attend sports clubs).
· Students from independent schools are much more likely to attend extra-curricular arts and music clubs than those attending all other types of schools. Additionally, students in local authority-maintained schools were less likely to attend arts and music clubs than students in academies.
The report recommends that the Westminster government should introduce a set of benchmarks for extracurricular activities to support good quality provision that is accessible and appealing. Access to these activities should not be considered as a nice “extra” for those that can afford it, but an integral part of childhood for all.
SOURCES:
Cultural Learning Alliance: https://www.culturallearningalliance.org.uk/policy-and-practice-round-up-february-2024/
Education Policy Institute: https://epi.org.uk/publications-and-research/access-to-extra-curricular-provision-and-the-association-with-outcomes/
DETAILS:
| BENEFIT: | COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT & FUTURE ACHIEVEMENT |
| TARGET GROUP: | CHILDREN & YOUNG ADULTS |
| AGE: | 13-22 YEARS-OLD |
| MUSIC TYPE: | AFTER-SCHOOL CLUBS |
| TYPE OF STUDY: | POLICY RESEARCH |
| NOs INVOLVED: | 10,500 |
| PERIOD OF STUDY: | 2013-2021 |
| DATE: | 2024 |
| PLACE: | ENGLAND |
Music Education Works 