This project explores young people’s creative choices and chances at critical transition points into and beyond further and higher education into the creative sector.

This project is funded by the Nuffield Foundation. More information about the project can be found on the Nuffield Foundation website.

The research team has mapped the pathways from compulsory education into creative subjects studied at age 16, in Further Education, Higher Education, and into employment.

The four research questions guiding the project are:

1. What are the educational pathways into creative subject study in Further and Higher Education?
   
2. How do subject, qualification type, and institution choices in school, Further Education and Higher Education interact with socio-economic and demographic backgrounds to influence young people’s transitions through education and into employment?
   
3. What are young people’s experiences/perceptions of their choices and chances in relation creative subjects, qualifications, and employment at these critical transition moments?
   
4. In what ways do higher and further education institutions facilitate or hinder these transitions? What are the institutional practices they deploy in doing so; and how do these vary by institutional nature and targeted creative industries sub-sectors?

Approach

The quantitative component of the project has involved the analysis of the Next Steps longitudinal dataset and the National Pupil Database to describe the pathways into creative occupations. Qualitative arts-based workshops in London and Norwich will explore young people’s and providers’ experiences of study and careers in creative sectors; and a survey with people working in the creative sector will provide the view from those who have navigated these choices to arrive at creative employment.

The final report is now available