Lifting Limits scaling project pilot evaluation, 2022 to 2023
This report presents a summary of a pilot evaluation conducted by ImpactEd between June 2022 and July 2023 in partnership with 15 schools in two multi-academy trusts. For this evaluation, Lifting Limits trialled a new way of delivering the programme: by training up ‘gender champions’ within each participating school who then trained their colleagues and led the work in their own school. This 'train the trainer’ model reaches more schools than when each school was trained individually by Lifting Limits.
10 pages
About Lifting Limits
Lifting Limits is a programme delivered in primary schools in England, taking a whole-school approach to challenge gender stereotyping and promote gender equality. Lifting Limits provides educators with training and resources to integrate into the school curriculum, equipping staff and supporting pupils to recognise, discuss and challenge gender bias and inequality wherever they find them in school and the wider world.
Evaluation
The pilot for this train the trainer model of the Lifting Limits programme ran from June 2022 until July 2023 in partnership with 15 schools in two multi-academy trusts. This evaluation explored how the 'train the trainer model' affected the following outcomes:
- gender champions' understanding of the programme’s gender stereotyping messaging
- gender champions' confidence in training their colleagues to understand the programme’s gender stereotyping messaging
- participating pupils’ and school staff’ s ability to understand and challenge gender stereotypes.
Gender champion outcomes
Overall, the 'train the trainer' model improved gender champions’ understanding of gender stereotyping and supported their ability to train their colleagues on the Lifting Limits messaging.
Gender champions showed an increase in confidence in training their colleagues in gender equality work, with the average confidence rating increasing to 4.37 out of 5 after a year of actively training and guiding their colleagues.
90% of gender champions indicated that they had identified next steps for gender equality work in their school following the programme.
[The Lifting Limits programme] gave me like a lot more confidence in myself that I knew that I could go and be taught something and then [share this] to an adult audience.
- Gender champion
Whole school staff outcomes
Overall, the train the trainer model was able to improve all school staff’s understanding of gender stereotyping and how to challenge it.
Teachers described increased accountability within schools, where pupils and teachers alike were challenging one another. School staff described being more confident in addressing gender stereotyping at the end of the programme, compared to before.
[Lifting Limits] is effective in bringing to light issues which are prevalent in society, and which need tackling. It has provided a gateway for children to confidently discuss and debate the topic.
- Teacher
Pupil outcomes
Overall, primary school pupils of all ages could envisage a broader range of roles and possibilities, for themselves and others.
All pupils gained a broader perspective on gender roles for themselves and others.
After the programme, pupils experienced a reduction in polarisation according to gender, seeing more similarities between boys and girls than differences. This pattern was also seen for younger pupils, where more KS1 pupils engaged in mixed gender play and considered either men or women could undertake caring, kind, strong, or clever roles, compared to before the programme.
Improvements
60%
of girls aged 7 to 11 believed they could be a footballer, increasing from 45%
40%
of boys aged 7 to 11 believed they could be a teacher, increasing from 29%
YP quote
A person is a person no matter what gender.
- KS2 pupil
