With reduced public funds available, should policy and practice focus on attitudes or on other directions? The study evaluates research evidence from five groups of interventions with children and parents: parent involvement, extra-curricular activities, mentoring, volunteering and peer education, and interventions with a primary focus on changing attitudes.

It found that:

• Changing three attitudes – aspirations, locus of control and valuing school – did not impact on educational attainment;
• There should be a shift in emphasis from 'raising aspirations' to 'keeping aspirations on track'.

The details annexes from this report can be accessed via Newcastle University's website.

A 'roundup' of the key messages from this programme of work is also available.