This article reviews some key findings from the National Foundation for Education Research (NFER) in two major research areas: strategies to address pupil disaffection, and arts education, focusing on overlap and commonality in reported effects and also effective practice. Its central question is whether, how and why arts education might make a contribution to those strategies aimed at addressing (or preventing) young people's disengagement from learning and educational opportunity. The authors discuss the key factors associated with successful re-engagement and those linked to effective arts education, and conclude with evidence-based questions to consider if arts education is to have a higher profile in the social inclusion agenda.