New approaches to engaging youth: An enquiry

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New approaches to engaging youth An enquiry

• Stephanie Wilde
• Nuffield Review of 14-19 Education and Training
• University of Oxford

Brighton, 27th November 2007
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Aims of the Nuffield Review/Rathbone Engaging
Youth Enquiry

• Develop a better understanding of the young
  people who are the targets of the current policy
  to reduce the so-called NEET figures Who are
  they? Why do they leave the education and
  training system early? What are their aspirations
  and what do they see as their needs?

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Aims ctd.

• Identify effective types of intervention in
  collaboration with practitioners and young people
• Work with providers and policy makers to develop
  suggestions for practice and discuss how these
  can best be supported by national and local
  policy

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Sources of evidence

• Analysis of the available statistics over time
  (Statistical First Releases).
• Documentary analysis and literature review,
  including analysis of relevant policy documents,
  research articles and ongoing projects.

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Workshops

• Series of workshops, November 2007-September
  2008, with practitioners and young people, held
  by the Nuffield Review and Rathbone.

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Case studies

• Further sources of evidence include case studies
  of young people outside education, employment and
  training.
• These are being collected by Rathbone staff, who
  have built up relationships of trust with the
  young people.

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• Currently the project has some 25 case studies.
  The following slides outline some emerging
  issues.
• A selection of these case studies are presented
  in a forthcoming EYE working paper, which will be
  available shortly on the Nuffield Review website.

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Emerging issues

• Life circumstances of young people
• Information, advice and guidance (IAG)
• Experience of learning
• Factors of disadvantage
• Health issues
• Risky behaviour

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Life circumstances of young people

• Effects of bullying, peer pressure, difficulties
  functioning in large groups
• High levels of fragility and vulnerability
• Territory issues, sub-cultures, gangs
• Sense of isolation
• Need for sense of security
• Problems with parents, carers, siblings and peer
  groups
• Carer roles

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Information, advice and guidance

• Lack of aspirations
• Lack of positive destinations
• Need for transitional support
• Issues with progression
• Lack of support

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Experience of learning

• Lack of sense of ownership of their learning and
  their futures
• Unhappy prior learning experiences
• Learning difficulties
• Factors of disadvantage
• Poverty
• Poor nutrition
• Housing issues

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Health issues

• Pregnancy
• Drugs
• Alcohol
• Mental health issues
• Risky behaviour
• History of offending
• Criminal record
• ASBOs

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EYE Workshops

• The first workshop (Manchester, 1st November)
  looked at the life circumstances of young people.
  There was one workshop with practitioners, and
  one with young people.
• The second workshop (Cardiff, 29th February) will
  focus on learning and work opportunities for
  young people.

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Outcomes of the enquiry

• The Engaging Youth Enquiry will conclude with a
  report summarising the key hindrances and
  potential sources of support for young people in
  danger of becoming classified as NEET in
  England and Wales.
• One of the aims will be to reduce the currency of
  this unhelpful term, and to challenge the
  terminology used.

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• See www.nuffield14-19review.org.uk,
• Engaging Youth Enquiry for future reports.
• Please email any comments to
• stephanie.wilde_at_education.ox.ac.uk
• Thank you for your interest.