Independent evaluation
An independent evaluation of The Art Room was carried out between January and April 2005 by Dr Tony Eaude, who is associated with the Department of Educational Studies, University of Oxford, supported by Sue Matthew. Both were previously headteachers of local primary schools. The evaluation was based mainly on observation and semi-structured discussion, rather than questionnaires or tests, given how The Art Room operates and the psychological fragility of those who attend.
How successful is The Art Room?
The evaluation looked at how successful The Art Room has been in relation to:
- aspects which cannot be measured, such as confidence and self-esteem and;
- measurable outcomes such as school attendance and prevention of exclusion.
These questions and answers summarise the main points:
- What is the effect on confidence and self-esteem?
- Does The Art Room help young people manage difficult situations better?
- What was the effect on attendance and exclusions?
- Does The Art Room help to raise standards of attainment?
- Did The Art Room resolve the young people’s difficulties?
Download the report
You can download a copy of the full report, Making Space for Re-engagement, from www.edperspectives.org.uk/objects/edp/arfinalreport.pdf