The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation commissioned the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) to conduct research into the effects and effectiveness of arts projects in PRUs and LSUs. The study was also to consider the distinctive contribution that arts activities (as compared with other curriculum experiences) might make to pupils’ educational, social and personal development, to assess the impact of arts projects on staff and institutional outcomes and to audit perceptions of cost-effectiveness.

Partnered by Arts Council England, this more rigorous evaluation by the NFER, drew out some harder evidence of the impact of the Gulbenkian's programme of arts projects in seven Pupil Referral Units (PRUs)s and Learning Support Units. A total of 69 interviews were conducted with pupils, teachers, artists and other significant individuals (for example the head of a cultural venue or arts organisation). Where available, this data was supplemented by information on pupils’ attendance, behaviour, exclusions, attainment, progression, and reintegration.

In 2001 the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, in collaboration with Arts Council England, established the First Time Projects scheme. The purpose of the scheme was to offer small grants to teachers in Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) and Learning Support Units (LSUs) to enable them to initiate artists’ residencies, based on the belief that practising artists often have much to offer pupils in these settings.

Overall, the distinctive contribution of the arts was attributed to the fact that they were different from pupils’ usual mainstream learning experiences. The arts activities were: practical rather than academic; contemporary in nature; allowed pupils to achieve when previously they had experienced mainly failure and to express themselves more positively; and focused on developing the whole child, particularly his/her sense of self.