Youth Bulletin - Reflections on the Youth Sector April 2024

This month, Youth Steering Group member Angel shares her reflections on the impact of the youth sector and celebrates its achievements, while also addressing ongoing challenges faced by young people.

Youth clubs, whether established by local councils, schools, or churches, provide vital support systems for young people. Initiatives such as "IntoUniversity," "Aim A Little Higher," and the "Positive Youth Foundation" have proven to be invaluable resources, offering life-changing advice and opportunities that cannot go unnoticed.

Challenges Faced by Youth: Despite the support of these organisations, many young people continue to grapple with significant challenges. Anti-social behaviour, bullying, and peer pressure are all too prevalent, leading some to believe that the education system is stacked against them. It has been disheartening growing up to witness peers who can’t see past the societal barriers placed in front of us and become a lost dot in the vast education system. 

Yet, amidst these challenges, I find hope and inspiration in the work of organisations dedicated to empowering children from minority backgrounds. Volunteering with such organisations has been a source of great pleasure for me, as I witness first-hand the impact of their efforts in encouraging young people to believe in their potential.

Youth Empowerment Initiatives: I also wish to commend the vital role of youth empowerment organisations and councils, both external and internal. These platforms provide young people with a voice that is heard and validated, allowing us to discuss and address pressing issues. In a world where globalization exposes us to myriad challenges, the ability to engage in meaningful dialogue is powerful.

Our Call to Action: As young people, we are the leaders of tomorrow, and it is imperative that our voices be heard today. Through initiatives like the Fair Education Alliance Youth Steering Group, we advocate for change, equality, and opportunity for all. 

I would like us to remember the words of Nelson Mandela: "The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow."

In conclusion, I am proud to be a part of a community that values youth voices and empowers us to enact change. Together, let us continue to amplify our voices and work towards a better future for all.

To read the full April 2024 bulletin click here. Our Youth Steering Group the bulletin every month sharing their reflections on the news, their campaign activity and sharing opportunities for other young people to take part in social action to reduce inequality in education.

 Youth Bulletin - Education in the News March 2024

So much has happened in March that we couldn't fit it all in one bulletin! Here are our reflections on:

• Fine Increases for Unauthorised School Absences

• The Government’s Guidance to Teachers Surrounding Trans Students

Fine Increases for Unauthorised School Absences

This month, Youth Steering Group member Becky is sharing her thoughts about the recent fine increase for unauthorized school absences. The government recently announced a 33% increase in parental fines for unauthorized absences, from £60 to £80, escalating to £160 if not paid within 21 days. While intended to boost attendance rates, these punitive measures may exacerbate underlying issues relating to non-attendance.
Unauthorized absence fines can strain the relationship between educators and parents, shifting the focus from collaboration to confrontation. This strain can trickle down, affecting the relationship between students and parents, particularly if financial constraints are a contributing factor. Increased fine amounts disproportionately affect families already facing financial hardships. Moreover, the inconsistency in the application of fines creates a postcode lottery, where some families bear the brunt of penalties while others escape unscathed. This not only reinforces existing inequalities but also erodes trust in the fairness of the system.

The government has focused its reasoning behind the increase in fines on parents taking children out of school for term-time holidays – with the fines acting as a firm signal to parents that attendance is important, and unauthorised absence is unacceptable. This plays into a wider issue. Whenever the issue of poor attendance is raised, it seems to be a reflex to blame a shift in parents’ attitudes to school, implying parents do not value school as much, especially in the case of low income families. This is a huge misconception – research from organisations like the Sutton Trust and Education Endowment Foundation consistently show that parents from low income families value education as a tool for success, and are often highly engaged with their children’s education. The issue is not that parents don’t think attendance at school is important – to imply that it is ignores the many underlying issues which can contribute to school absences.

For many families, financial constraints during a cost of living crisis limits their ability to take holidays outside of term time. Punitive measures fail to acknowledge this reality, and are unlikely to be a significant deterrent for the families making use of the significant savings they can make by booking holidays during the school term. Studies by the DfE and other educational research organisations have found that there is no clear evidence that fixed penalty notices (FPNs) for non-attendance have a significant impact on overall attendance rates - while some schools reported improvements in attendance following the introduction of FPNs, these improvements were not consistently observed across all schools. While fines may have a short-term impact on attendance, their effectiveness diminishes over time, and they may have unintended consequences, such as exacerbating inequalities and damaging relationships between schools and families.

By focusing on punitive measures, we're merely addressing symptoms rather than causes, deflecting attention from the inadequacies within the education system itself which contribute to low attendance. We must adopt a more holistic approach, one that addresses the root causes of absenteeism and fosters collaboration between schools, families, and communities. By offering support rather than sanctions, we can create an environment where every pupil has the opportunity to thrive.

The Government’s Guidance to Teachers Surrounding Trans Students

Youth Steering Group member Jayden is sharing their thoughts on the government's recent draft guidance for schools on how teachers should respond when faced with a student who has come out as transgender. Although this guidance is not yet set in stone and is not mandatory for teachers to follow, there may still be many negative consequences for students regardless of whether they are transgender or not.

Social transitioning refers to somebody affirming their gender identity by taking actions such as changing their name, pronouns, and appearance through clothes and their hair. If this draft is to remain unchanged, then teachers shall be told they are not required to allow students to socially transition within the school and are expected to tell their parents if they are questioning their gender identity.

Although the guidance is not an outright ban on social transitioning within schools, it does create barriers for students to talk to teachers about their feelings due to fear of them being outed at home as they may not be able to make a fair assessment of whether it would be unsafe. It could also restrict all students’ self-expression, such as girls being expected to wear skirts which not all are comfortable with doing so for personal reasons such as religion.

The real-life consequences of this can be drastic as not everybody is going to have accepting and understanding parents or carers. This, alongside having a distrust or fear of talking to teachers, could potentially lead to mental health issues that our overwhelmed and under-sourced NHS might struggle to address promptly. In my experience, the in-school implications that may emerge include bullying and social outcasting which could lead to a rise in school avoidance.

Schools are meant to be a place for all children to feel safe, which is said to be at the heart of this guidance; but one child’s safety should not be at the expense of another’s mental and physical wellbeing, and their education.

To read the full March 2024 bulletin click here. Our Youth Steering Group the bulletin every month sharing their reflections on the news, their campaign activity and sharing opportunities for other young people to take part in social action to reduce inequality in education.