Had a clear citizenship link. Good on health education. Pastoral issues flagged. Would recommend to other schools

Deputy Head Pimlico school

The play was very effective and relevant as well as enjoyable for students key stage 4 and keystage 5. I feel that more schools should be given the opportunity to watch the play for the advancement of scientific literacy.

Head of Science Dunraven school

People Science and Policy Ltd was commissioned to evaluate the whole Mind the Gap programme, from the development of the play, the accompanying debate and educational materials through to their delivery in schools.

The project took place in two stages, a pilot tour in London in the autumn term of 2004, and a national tour in the autumn term of 2005.

Extracts from the Final Evaluation Report by People Science and Policy Ltd.

• This evaluation has shown that the performance (the play and debate combined) exerts a powerful influence on the perceptions and attitudes of young people. In addition to the extensive impacts on knowledge and attitudes, the extremely positive levels of engagement achieved make the Y-Touring model a very effective one.
  
• The students have found the performance both enjoyable and engaging and their knowledge and attitudes have changed as a result of the experience.
  
•  Teachers regarded the performance as a useful aid to teaching and hosting performances has encouraged cross-curricular working in schools. All bar one of the teachers felt that the information given in the play was relevant to the national curriculum. Teachers were asked to identify the subject that the performance was most relevant to, but many highlighted more than one indicating that it supports a number of subjects. The most frequently cited subject was PSHE and other relevant subjects were Science, English, Drama and Biology. One teacher commented on this wide relevance and its benefit to the students.
  

  “Very cross curricular therefore satisfying to the majority of students.”

  Teacher
  

• The project has contributed successfully to the development of the capacity of professional playwrights to write about topics embracing biomedical issues. Both playwrights and expert advisers have felt highly engaged by the process and have expressed a keenness to be involved in similar projects in the future.

Download the full final report (PDF)

	For further information about this project, email our Tour Producer David Jackson