A case study in evaluation: a report on the impact of Silver CREST Awards done by volunteers managed by Pro Bono Economics. One of the sessions on evaluation given at the Welcome Trust's Engaging Science conference 20 April 2016

1. CREST Silver impact
report
20 April 2016
Katherine Mathieson
Director of Programmes
British Science Association
Katherine.Mathieson@british
scienceassociation.org
@Kath_Math

2. Our vision is of a world where science is at the heart of
society and culture.
Our mission is to support, grow and diversify the
community of people interested and involved in science,
and to strengthen their influence over science’s direction
and place in society.
British Science Association

3. Quantifying CREST
http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/crestsilver-report

4. Report launch

5. CREST Awards
http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/crest-awards

6. Research questions
1. What are the characteristics of students taking Silver
CREST Awards?
2. Does participation in the Silver CREST Award
programme have an impact on attainment in science
subjects at GCSE level?
3. Does participation in the Silver CREST Award impact
on the likelihood of taking a STEM AS level?

7. 1. What are the characteristics of students taking Silver
CREST Awards?
Science, 35%
Design and
Technology, 32%
Engineering, 7%
Maths, 1%
Unknown, 24%
Science Design and Technology Engineering Maths Unknown
Table 5.2: Proportions of Silver CREST projects by subject

8. 2. Does participation in the Silver CREST Award
programme have an impact on attainment in science
subjects at GCSE level?
37.7
41.3
49.8 48.5
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Highest GCSE science points Mean GCSE points
Non-CREST CREST
Figure 5.6: Highest and Mean GCSE points for CREST & non-CREST students

9. 3. Does participation in the Silver CREST Award impact
on the likelihood of taking a STEM AS level?
Figure 5.7: Take-up of certain STEM subjects at AS level
31%
21%
15%
26%
52%
41%
37% 38%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
AS maths AS chemistry AS physics AS biology
Non CREST CREST

10. CREST Silver impact
report
20 April 2016
Katherine Mathieson
Director of Programmes
British Science Association
Katherine.Mathieson@british
scienceassociation.org
@Kath_Math