ASPIRE Dundee is an ambitious project working with approximately 2,500 children in eleven primary school communities using performing arts incorporating dance, music and drama in a creative and immersive manner across and beyond the school curriculum to increase and develop pupils’ health and wellbeing, self-confidence and self-esteem, learning and skills development whilst challenging inequalities. Experiencing child poverty can undermine the health, wellbeing and educational attainment of children. By the age of five, children in poverty are between ten and thirteen months behind their peers from more affluent backgrounds in terms of educational attainment. Children in the most deprived areas of Dundee have significantly worse health compared to children in the least deprived areas, including dental health and obesity rates.

Phase One: Launched in November 2013 Develop and deliver an immersive and intensive arts based programme to be led by professional artists/music educators working directly in schools during core curricular time Develop strong extra curricular opportunities afterschool for out of hours learning. Crucial to phase one - the successful design of the programme and the confidence and support of external funders such as Scottish Government, Creative Scotland, Legacy 2014, Youth Music Initiative along with a contribution from the Early Years Change Fund.

Phase Two: Spring – Autumn 2015 Development and delivery of the ASPIRE Dundee community engagement programme creating more opportunities for families to access participation activities within their local area towards developing stronger school, family and community relationships Phase Three: Autumn 2016 To firmly embed and establish the ASPIRE Dundee model of practice with key partners and stakeholders to be a sustainable and locally led intervention demonstrating a ‘smarter spend’ and more effective allocation of existing resources “ASPIRE Dundee is innovative, aspirational and bold. It is at it’s core a true example of effective partnership working”

School Community Art FormStart of Project planning - implementation St Vincent’s RC PrimaryDanceNovember 2013 Rowantree PrimaryDanceNovember 2013 St Luke’s & St Matthew’s RC PrimaryDramaJanuary 2014 Ballumbie Primary and Ballumbie Early Years Centre Drama January 2014 Longhaugh Primary and Longhaugh Nursery DramaJanuary 2014 Camperdown PrimaryMusicApril 2014 St Clement’s RC PrimaryMusicApril 2014 Sidlaw View PrimaryMusicApril 2014 Rosebank PrimaryMusicApril 2014 Claypotts Castle Primary and Claypotts Castle Early Years Centre Dance March 2015 St Pius RC PrimaryDanceMarch 2015 Dens Road PrimaryDramaMarch 2016 Ardler PrimaryMusicMarch 2016

Dundee City Council Children and FamiliesChildren and Young PeopleSchoolsCommunities Increased quality partnership working Effective management of existing resources Sharing good practice across local authorities and beyond Co-ordinated approach of local services Greater capacity for project delivery Highly skilled and ambitious workforce Increase in confidence and self esteem Improved co-ordination and fine motor skills Better motivation for learning Higher levels of skills development Pride and sense of achievement Improved schools and home relationships Developing a Growth Mindset approach Greater resilience Enjoyment in learning and taking part Increased aspirations Increased attendance reduced exclusions Evidence of better behaviour – less disruption Better concentration skills High quality Career Long Professional Learning for staff Positive ethos Strong partnerships addressing local priorities Greater parental involvement Strong evidence of high quality interdisciplinary learning approaches Focus of positive ethos from primary school Strengthened relationships Increased local participation in arts/healthy activities Sense of pride Greater connectivity between services Greater use of local assets Raised awareness of opportunities “In analyzing the results of our case studies along with data collected and key interview material there is undoubtedly already an improvement in confidence and self esteem which has led to improved attendance and reduced exclusions……” University of Dundee – Interim Project Report

“I really think it brings forward a selection of the arts where the children can work together to produce a whole school interdisciplinary approach to a project that the children fully lead, fully participate in and have ownership of. You’re also looking at personalisation and choice you’re looking at relevance. You are also taking in a lot of the curriculum design principles through the whole process. It really is a multi-agency approach and it’s been very beneficial for the children. “ Head Teacher St Luke’s and St Matthew’s RC Primary School Dundee

Gary Cameron Jun 17 Feel so lucky to have been part of the ‪#whitfieldgiants project. Amazing day for the young people! rw gran Jun this how to show the rest of the city the social change occurring in the fabric of Whitfield well done

How does the music make you feel? “It makes me feel safe” Dundee Primary School Pupil