Understanding and measuring the effects of dance on pupil learning outcomes

This project can be offered either on a full-time or a part-time basis. Please email the prospective supervisor for more details.

This project focuses on the broad area of Sport Pedagogy and seeks to explore the effects of dance on pupils.

Dance is considered one activity area within the physical education (or arts) curriculum that has the potential to make a significant contribution to a range of educational outcomes for young children (Youth Dance England, 2010). However, despite convincing arguments by dance specialists and researchers (Chen, 2001; Hannah, 2008; Buck, 2006), the research base upon which such claims are grounded is limited. To address this gap, the proposed study seeks to draw upon existing pilot studies to develop an evidence-based dance programme (objective 1) which will be subsequently implemented and evaluated across a number of primary or secondary schools in England (objective 2). The dance intervention will be specifically designed to enhance pupils’ attainment.

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