The recent RAPS (Research into Arts in Primary Schools) study represents the largest research project of its kind in the UK. Its findings highlight the profound impact of arts-rich education, demonstrating that schools with a strong commitment to the arts foster greater engagement, achievement, and civic participation among children.

At Artis, we have long championed these principles, and the study’s outcomes reinforce the core of our mission: to nurture creativity in every child everywhere. By embedding creativity into the primary curriculum we help enrich children’s education and wellbeing.

The case for arts-rich schools

James Catterall’s extensive research into arts-rich secondary schools found that children from low-income backgrounds who engaged in the arts were significantly more likely to pursue higher education and study arts-rich subjects. His work also showed that these children were more engaged in civic activities, reinforcing the idea that an arts-rich education has lasting benefits. The RAPS project extended this research into primary education, confirming that early exposure to high-quality arts teaching shapes children’s attitudes, learning, and future opportunities.

The study identified key characteristics of arts-rich primary schools:

• A wide range of arts subjects (music, drama, dance, and visual arts) taught to all children weekly.
• Strong leadership commitment to arts education.
• Specialist arts teachers embedded within schools, either employed part-time or through partnerships with arts organisations.
• A robust arts curriculum integrated with core learning.
• Ongoing collaboration with external arts organisations.
• A culture where children see themselves as artists, fostering confidence, agency, and a sense of belonging.

How Artis aligns with the RAPS findings

At Artis, our work directly supports the development of arts-rich primary schools. Our Creative Learning Specialists bring expertise in music, movement, and drama into schools, providing high-quality arts education while also supporting classroom teachers to integrate the arts across the curriculum.

The study’s findings align with our key priorities:

1. Specialist arts teachers make a difference
   The RAPS study emphasises the importance of specialist staff in schools. Our creative learning specialists are trained to deliver impactful weekly arts education. They also provide Continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities for the teachers by encouraging teachers to actively engage with Artis sessions, equipping them with the skills and confidence to continue creative learning within their own lessons.
2.  Strong leadership and whole-school commitment
   One of the most significant findings was ‘leadership density’ – where multiple stakeholders, from senior leadership to teachers and children, share a vision for arts-rich education. At Artis, we collaborate with school leaders to develop sustainable arts programmes that align with school priorities and support whole-school improvement.
3. Wellbeing and engagement
   Our approach prioritises children’s wellbeing, echoing the study’s findings that arts-rich schools foster confidence, collaboration, and a sense of pride in achievements. Our specialists use creative strategies to support emotional literacy, social skills, and resilience – key elements in the broader benefits of arts engagement.Artis can generate lifetime benefits of up to £2,300 per child, or £8,700 for children with elevated needs, by improving truancy, exclusion, crime, smoking, mental health and earnings. This means that every £1 invested in Artis can generate up to £32 in lifetime benefits for the children we work with. Read the full impact report here.
4. Access and inclusivity
   Schools in the study highlighted the importance of ensuring all children, regardless of background, have access to high-quality arts education. Many of our partner schools serve communities with high levels of SEN, EAL, and socioeconomic disadvantage, making the arts a vital tool for engagement and expression. Our training ensures specialists are equipped to work inclusively, adapting their practice to support all learners.

The future

The RAPS study offers clear recommendations for scaling up arts-rich primary education, including targeted teacher training, long-term partnerships with cultural organisations, and national networks to share best practices. Artis is already contributing to this vision through our extensive training programmes, mentoring schemes, and partnerships with external arts organisations. Our annual residential training and ongoing CPD opportunities ensure that our specialists remain at the forefront of arts education, ready to support schools in becoming arts-rich environments.

Why be arts-poor?

The study found that arts-rich schools performed just as well, if not better, academically compared to similar schools without strong arts provision. The outdated belief that focusing on the arts detracts from core subjects is challenged by evidence showing that an arts-rich education enhances learning outcomes.

In fact, 77% of RAPS schools were performing as well as, or better than, other schools in their family. More specifically:

• 36% of arts-rich schools performed well above their local authority average, compared to 28% of comparator schools.
• 60% of arts-rich schools performed either above or well above their local authority average, compared to 43% of comparator schools.
• 70% of arts-rich schools performed at, above, or well above their local authority average, compared to 56% of comparator schools.

This data supports what James Catterall suggested in secondary schools – that arts-rich schools do not see a decline in results but instead, in many cases, perform better than schools without strong arts provision. The additional benefits of an arts-rich education, such as improved confidence, teamwork, and engagement, further reinforce the value of investing in creative learning.

At Artis, we believe that all children have a right to an education filled with creativity. The RAPS findings affirm what we have championed for 20 years: arts-rich schools create better educational experiences, stronger communities, and more engaged, confident learners. By continuing to embed the arts into primary education, we are not just teaching creativity – we are shaping futures.

If your school is looking to become more arts-rich, we would love to work with you to make it happen. Let’s together shape a thriving society by nurturing creativity in every child, everywhere. Contact us today.

To read the full RAPs report click here.