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Children's Participation in Culture and Sport

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CHAPTER 3: ATTENDANCE AT CULTURAL AND SPORTS EVENTS

OUTSIDE SCHOOL

Events attended out of school time

3.1 Young people are most likely to have been to see films and live sporting events on a regular basis 3 in the last 12 months. Far fewer have gone regularly, if at all, to any of the other events listed in the survey (see Table 3.1 below).

3.2 While film and sporting events are the most popular activities among both boys and girls and for all age groups, there are some variations to highlight:

  • Girls are more likely than boys to have been to see films regularly, with 12 year old (44%) and 15 year old girls (47%) most likely to have done so;
  • Boys are much more likely to have gone to sporting events or matches on a regular basis, with very little variation between different aged boys;
  • Young people who live in households where both parents work are significantly more likely to have been to the cinema on a regular basis (40%) than those with no parents working (30%);
  • As might be expected because of the lack of facilities close by, young people living in rural areas are much less likely to have seen a film on a regular basis than their peers living in urban areas (25% vs. 42%)

Table 3.1: Events been to outside of school time

Q - In the last 12 months, how often have you been to each of these events (excluding school trips)?
Base: 1,762 11-15 year olds

Events attended at least once a month

%

Gender

Age

All

M

F

11-12

13

14

15

Film at cinema or other venue

37

31

43

38

34

38

40

Live sporting event or match

20

29

10

20

20

19

20

Performance street arts (such as theatre, music, dance and circus in everyday surroundings like parks, streets or shopping centre)

7

4

10

9

7

5

8

Play, drama and other theatrical performances (such as musicals or pantomime)

4

2

8

7

3

4

4

Other live music event e.g. live band

4

4

5

2

4

4

7

Ballet/contemporary dance/other live dance event

3

*

5

3

4

3

1

Exhibition or collection of art, photography, sculpture or crafts

2

2

2

1

3

2

2

Event connected with books or writing

2

2

3

3

2

3

1

Opera/classical music performance

2

1

2

1

2

2

1

Source: IpsosMORI

Differences by gender

3.3 Girls tend to go to a greater number of events than boys, with more than two in five girls (42%) having been to 4+ events, compared with just over a quarter of boys (27% - see Figure 3.1 below).

Figure 3.1: Number of events been to in the last 12 months (excluding school trips)

Figure 3.1: Number of events been to in the last 12 months (excluding school trips)

Base: All respondents aged 12-15 (1,759)

INSIDE SCHOOL

Events attended as part of school trip

3.4 Three-quarters of young people (74%) have been to at least one of the events listed in the survey, with watching a film the most widespread activity (49%), particularly among S1 pupils (60%).

3.5 On the whole, girls are more likely to have been to events as part of a school trip (see Table 3.2 below). They are significantly more likely than boys to have been to an exhibition or collection relating to the arts; seen performance street arts; been to see a theatrical performance; and been to a dance event. Boys, however, are much more likely to have been to see a film or a live sporting event.

3.6 As with activities participated in whilst at school, girls are more likely to have been to a greater number of events as part of a school trip than boys: nearly one in five (18%) have been to four or more events, compared with just 13% of boys. S1 pupils are most likely to have been to four or more events (20%).

Differences by socio-economic status and area

3.7 There are some differences worth noting relating to the socio-economic status of the young person's household and the type of area where they live. For example, those living in a household where at least one parent works are significantly more likely to have been to four or more events than those with no parent working (17% vs. 11%).

3.8 Those living in an urban area are more likely to have been to see a theatrical performance (27%, compared with 23% of rural dwellers). Those living in a rural area, however, are significantly more likely to have been to a live sporting event or match in the last 12 months (36%, compared with 28% of urban residents).

Table 3.2: Attending events as part of school trip

Q - In the last 12 months, have you been to any of these events as part of a school trip?
Base: 1,762 11-15 year olds

%

Gender

Year group

All

M

F

S1

S2

S3

S4

Film at cinema or other venue

49

53

46

60

52

50

35

Live sporting event or match

29

37

21

38

30

23

24

Play, drama and other theatrical performances (such as musicals or pantomime)

24

17

30

29

16

22

28

Performance street arts (such as theatre, music, dance and circus in everyday surroundings like parks, streets or shopping centre)

20

16

24

21

19

20

21

Other live music event e.g. live band

19

17

21

25

17

19

16

Exhibition or collection of art, photography, sculpture or crafts

18

13

23

19

17

15

21

Event connected with books or writing

11

10

13

12

15

13

5

Opera/classical music performance

5

4

5

6

2

4

7

Ballet/contemporary dance/other live dance event

5

1

9

7

4

6

3

Done 1 activity

28

27

28

27

29

27

28

Done 2 activities

19

21

17

23

19

18

17

Done 3 activities

12

11

13

15

11

9

14

Done 4+ activities

15

13

18

20

14

17

12

Not stated

26

27

24

16

27

30

30

Source: IpsosMORI

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Page updated: Tuesday, August 12, 2008