Choices, chances, and transitions around creative further and higher education

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

This project was funded by the Nuffield Foundation.

To read more about the project, please go to the Nuffield Foundation website.

Project Aims

The aim of the project was to map the pathways from compulsory education into creative subjects studied at age 16, in Further Education, Higher Education, and into employment; and to understand how people who study creative subjects, or work in the creative sector, have navigated these subject choices.

The four research questions guiding the project were:

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?

Approach

The quantitative component of the project has involved the analysis of the Next Steps longitudinal cohort study; and of linked administrative data, including the National Pupil Database, the Individualised Learner Record, and the Student Record from the Higher Education Statistics Agency, to describe the pathways through creative subjects and ultimately into creative occupations.

Qualitative arts-based workshops in London and Norwich explored young people’s and providers’ experiences of study and careers in creative sectors; and a survey with people working in the creative sector provided the view from those who have navigated these choices to arrive at creative employment.

Report

The final report for this project is now available.

Summary

You can also download a copy of the report's executive summary on its own.