Learner participation to improve educational outcomes in Scottish schools: A framework to enhance learner participation through the Drama Curriculum

Abstract

The recent move to incorporate the United Nations Convention of the Rights of
the Child (1989) into Scots Law means that fulfilling children’s rights, and
therefore embedding them in Scotland’s Education system, is a top priority.
Despite a positive education policy context which promotes learner participation
in schools and a wealth of research highlighting the benefits of learner
participation and positive outcomes for learners, there continues to be challenges
fulfilling policy intentions in practice. This systematic review of contemporary
empirical evidence analyses and synthesises existing literature in the field of
learner participation in order to provide new insight, rooted in classroom practice.
It also examines how curriculum Drama can equip young people with the skills
and abilities to participate effectively. The study concludes with a proposed
framework for enhancing participatory practice within a Scottish secondary
school Drama department in order to contribute to a whole school participatory
ethos.