Trailblazer Evaluation Report 17/18
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There is a core of 22 schools who have committed to <strong>Trailblazer</strong> for four or more<br />
years, including 20<strong>18</strong>/19. They have a wealth of experience managing the<br />
programme, developing staff and curriculum. Some schools can share effective<br />
ways of embedding the Cultural Champion role within their staffing structures,<br />
others have made great use of their Cultural Governor. Some are very well placed<br />
to develop and lead approaches to curriculum design for progression. They have all<br />
been part of the establishment of a community of reflective cultural learning, with<br />
case studies and expertise to share. All are great ambassadors for the programme<br />
by the very fact of their ongoing commitment.<br />
As <strong>Trailblazer</strong> enters a fifth year, there may be children in Thurrock who have<br />
taken part in some way every year since they started school. Some children will<br />
have moved to secondary school bringing <strong>Trailblazer</strong> experiences with them. The<br />
experiences, expectations and opportunities for progression of those pupils can<br />
inform the future development of the programme, and inform the way that schools<br />
plan their engagement.<br />
Engagement through the MATs<br />
Across the borough 24 schools are currently within a MAT containing more than<br />
one Thurrock school (and so potentially could work together through <strong>Trailblazer</strong>).<br />
<strong>17</strong> of those have enrolled for 20<strong>18</strong>/19. SWECET and GLC have all their schools<br />
taking part. Harris, ORTU, Olive, ATT and St Clere’s Co-operative all have at least<br />
one school taking part.<br />
Catalyst is historically the least engaged of the MATs. It has no schools involved this<br />
year. One of its schools has never engaged, three have taken part at least once but<br />
not rejoined.<br />
In total, there are six schools not engaging this year who sit within MATs which do<br />
include engaged schools. Though they do not access the Cultural Catalogue<br />
directly, children from these schools could potentially benefit from MAT focused<br />
activity, led by the Cultural Champions from the engaged schools. <strong>Trailblazer</strong><br />
Moments events would allow them to connect, and support ongoing recruitment<br />
conversations for the 2019/20 programme.<br />
Within these different patterns of participation are conversations to be had with<br />
Executive Heads, identifying the benefits of having a coordinated development of<br />
arts provision across their Trust, quality assured by the <strong>Trailblazer</strong> factor.<br />
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