Artists in Cypriot primary schools: the pupils' perspective

Musicians and visual artists are appointed to work as specialist teachers in Cypriot primary schools because of their artistic expertise. However, little information is available concerning these artists and their work in schools, including the perceptions of the pupils. This paper reports on an investigation into the nature of the pupils' attitudes and the school effect. A self-report questionnaire was developed from discussions with groups of children in four primary schools, and completed by a representative sample of 574 boys and girls aged between 9 and 11 years of age in eight schools, each of which employed a different musician and visual artist. Results show that overall, pupils' attitudes toward the artists are positive, although there is some variation in attitude of school staff. Issues raised by the research are discussed, and areas for further research highlighted.