Trailblazer Evaluation Report 17/18

There is a core of 22 schools who have committed to Trailblazer for four or more
years, including 2018/19. They have a wealth of experience managing the
programme, developing staff and curriculum. Some schools can share effective
ways of embedding the Cultural Champion role within their staffing structures,
others have made great use of their Cultural Governor. Some are very well placed
to develop and lead approaches to curriculum design for progression. They have all
been part of the establishment of a community of reflective cultural learning, with
case studies and expertise to share. All are great ambassadors for the programme
by the very fact of their ongoing commitment.
As Trailblazer enters a fifth year, there may be children in Thurrock who have
taken part in some way every year since they started school. Some children will
have moved to secondary school bringing Trailblazer experiences with them. The
experiences, expectations and opportunities for progression of those pupils can
inform the future development of the programme, and inform the way that schools
plan their engagement.
Engagement through the MATs
Across the borough 24 schools are currently within a MAT containing more than
one Thurrock school (and so potentially could work together through Trailblazer).
17 of those have enrolled for 2018/19. SWECET and GLC have all their schools
taking part. Harris, ORTU, Olive, ATT and St Clere’s Co-operative all have at least
one school taking part.
Catalyst is historically the least engaged of the MATs. It has no schools involved this
year. One of its schools has never engaged, three have taken part at least once but
not rejoined.
In total, there are six schools not engaging this year who sit within MATs which do
include engaged schools. Though they do not access the Cultural Catalogue
directly, children from these schools could potentially benefit from MAT focused
activity, led by the Cultural Champions from the engaged schools. Trailblazer
Moments events would allow them to connect, and support ongoing recruitment
conversations for the 2019/20 programme.
Within these different patterns of participation are conversations to be had with
Executive Heads, identifying the benefits of having a coordinated development of
arts provision across their Trust, quality assured by the Trailblazer factor.
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