Playing for Success

The ‘Playing for Success’ (PfS) initiative is targeted on underachieving young people. It aims to contribute to raising educational standards, especially in numeracy and literacy, bringing the attainment levels of lower achieving pupils closer to the average expected for their age. Previous national evaluation studies have measured pupils’ performance at the start and end of their attendence at PfS Centres (Sharp et al., 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003). The results haven shown clear evidence of significant improvements, especially in numeracy and information and communications technology (ICT). This study set out to consider whether there was any evidence of longer term changes in pupils’ performance in National Curriculum Assessments (NCA) associated with attending a PfS Centre. It also aimed to gather information on the strategies adopted by PfS Centres to encourage schools to capitalise on the learning gains achieved by pupils attending GfS.