The role of evaluation in school sport policy, provision and participation

In this chapter we show how Spear’s independent evaluations of the Change4Life School Sports Clubs programme over the four year period from the 2010 to 2015 has contributed to the evidence base for policy-makers, provided a rationale for investment and informed programme improvement, in turn impacting positively on young people’s engagement and physical activity levels. We also examine the wider socio-political context of 2010 to 2015 to consider how the research has both contributed to and been shaped by social, political and economic factors.