RESEARCH CONFIRMS FILMCLUBS’ POSITIVE EFFECT ON RECEPTIVENESS TO LEARNING

An Ipsos MORI survey commissioned by the organisation FILMCLUB, has found that film is considered the most advanced form of storytelling and further research amongst schools reveals that regularly watching a range of movies with peers increases children’s receptiveness to learning.

In addition to this, the survey shows that the general public recognises the importance of film on personal development and the positive role it can play in a child’s school life. Film is ranked as one of the three most important art forms, with 68% ranking it in their top three above literature, theatre and visual art.

FILMCLUB also carried out research amongst its schools which shows the initiative is proving hugely beneficial to children’s academic and social development.

• Over 80% reported that FILMCLUB has a positive effect on children’s receptiveness to learning. 

• 94 % said that FILMCLUB develops children’s critical reasoning skills. 

Across the board the research confirms that FILMCLUB fulfils the objectives of Every Child Matters in being both educational and enjoyable. FILMCLUB really is making school a happier place with 84% of 345 primary and 82% of 373 secondary school respondents claiming that they enjoy coming to school more because of FILMCLUB.  

• 81% of FILMCLUB leaders said that the club makes children more positive about school. 

• Almost 70% said that it increases children’s confidence. 

• 81.7% feel that FILMCLUB integrates isolated or disengaged children.

“FILMCLUB is fantastic, really, really great. My son doesn't like school but enjoys school on days when FILMCLUB is on. It is a great incentive [for him] to go to school. It is a reward and with Declan having dyslexia, it really gives him a boost."

Parent of FILMCLUB member 

Importantly FILMCLUB is meeting its objective of being inclusive, much of its strength coming from the fact that everyone can participate in the extended school’s activity. 

“It broadens student's learning and appreciation of the arts. It provides lower ability students a more accessible route to learning

and 'English'. It is a fun and exciting way to learn and improve your knowledge and skills.”     

FILMCLUB Teacher 

These research results mark the end of FILMCLUB’s first school year. There are more than 1800 schools participating in the after school club with over 56,000 children benefiting from exposure to inspiring and potentially life changing films every week. Over the next two years the number of schools will increase to 7,000.

The quick take up of FILMCLUB by teachers is, in part, due to the school support provided by the organization which includes training, technical help and someone on the end of the telephone to advise teachers.

Supported by both the educational establishment and the film industry, FILMCLUB has become a model for successful extended school’s activities. 

”The off-the-shelf nature of FILMCLUB - rightly prized by the teachers - is a huge advantage. It is one of those ‘high leverage’ (as researcher Richard Hargreaves would describe it) opportunities where ‘relatively low effort is needed to formulate or implement, but they yield extremely beneficial outcomes in terms of learning and ethos’.”

Professor Tim Brighouse 

“FILMCLUB is incredible. It’s brilliant how teachers are using movies to engage kids with the world. Through the work of these teachers, children will be exposed to different worlds and new cultures. I made up my mind what I wanted to do when I was a young school kid - perhaps FILMCLUB will inspire children to decide what they want to do. Teachers can use films to really open children's minds to the limitless possibilities life has to offer.” 

Ewan McGregor, Actor

Writer and School Support Director, Sabrina Broadbent says:

“In my own work, I’ve inhabited the world of books and film as an English teacher, as a fiction writer and in my current job setting up free after school film clubs.  I know there are a lot of books out there but I wasn’t expecting the film list to be so huge – there’s more than a century of film out there – a vast vault of stories that rolls backwards to the First World War, extends across continents, is told in

hundreds of languages and in countless ways. Anyone can enjoy a film. More than literature, more than art, film is arguably a more democratic art form than many. You don’t have to be good at film to enjoy watching one.”

2189 people were interviewed in the Ipsos MORI survey.

718 young people and teachers took part the FILMCLUB survey.

FILMCLUB was set up in 2006 by Lindsay Mackie and Beeban Kidron, a successful pilot took place January-March 2007, following funding from the DCSF a national roll out began in April 2008 and FILMCLUB was officially launched in June 2008.

FILMCLUB is funded in England by the Department of Chidren Schools and Families, in Northern Ireland by the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure and Northern Ireland Screen, in Wales by the Film Agency for Wales and Skillset Screen Academy in Wales and in Scotland by Scottish Screen.

FILMCLUB also receives generous support from LOVEFiLM, the UK’s largest on-line DVD rental company which provides access to their film catalogue and Filmbank Distribution which provides licence coverage for film viewings.