The Schools Blog

A survey shows on behalf of the DCSF shows that teenagers have had enough of being labelled as lazy and want the opportunity to do more positive things in their free time.   (It’s actually not very surprising - most of us don’t like being called lazy).

More than 3,500 16 to 19 year olds were quizzed as part of the nationwide Teen Talk survey. It  is believed to be the largest ever SMS-based poll of teenagers’ free time. It found that far from wanting to spend their evenings and weekends just hanging out (if that is the correct phrase in these post-modern times), almost three quarters (72 per cent) of today’s teens would rather be involved in activities such as football, dance, going to the gym, music and martial arts. Many teenagers are also keen to participate in youth groups and community volunteering.

However, nine in ten (90 per cent) of 16 to 19 year olds admitted spending much of their time hanging out at home or with friends due to a lack of opportunities in their local area. More than four in five said there is simply not enough to do where they live and would like to see more activities made available to them.

In addition, almost one in ten (8 per cent) already use their leisure time in part time jobs, with a further 16 per cent keen to do the same.

The Teen Talk survey forms part of Aiming High for Young People, the DCSF’s ten year strategy to increase young people’s participation in positive leisure time activities. Positive activities are defined as either structured leisure time activities such as clubs, volunteering and youth work and recreational leisure time activities like sports, drama and music.

The annual Tellus3 survey of children and young people, published today by Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills, also found that bullying was still a problem, and that smoking, drinking and drugs remain concerns.

The study, staged during spring this year, asked children and young people in Years 6, 8 and 10 from 3114 schools in 145 local authorities in England how they viewed their lives - and how good local authorities are at providing services for young people.

Results indicate a positive picture for the vast majority, though there remain long-standing problems, with the level of drinking, drug use and smoking needing to be addressed (see ‘what young people said’ below).

Tellus3 is the second national survey of children and young people, asking participants to report on how healthy they are, how safe they feel, whether they enjoy school, if they are happy, and if the advice they receive on matters like sex and relationships is sufficient. They were also asked what would make their lives better.

Happiness and helpfulness

The majority of children and young people (69%) said they are happy and almost all (95%) said they have one or more good friends. Fewer than last year answered that they were worried about friendships. Of concern, however, is the small yet significant number of children and young people (8%) who report that they are unhappy about life.

Thirty two percent of 10 to 15 year olds when asked what worried them most responded that they are worried about their body; this is first time this question has been asked.

Better information and advice about sex and relationships was wanted by more than a third of children and young people.

Most young people say they give some of their time to charity work or help others in their neighbourhood.

Although an improved figure from last year, three in five still feel their views are not listened to in the running of their school.

The future

Changes from last year’s survey results show that more children and young people have a positive perspective overall. More than half report that they want to stay on at school and go to university. An increased number would like more information to help them plan their future; 62% compared with 55% last year.

The survey results also show more children and young people are concerned about their future. This result shows one of the largest changes from last year, with nearly half identifying this as a significant concern compared with 30% last year. In line with this concern about their future, exams are also a worry for many (57%).

As last year, most (81%) said they tried hard in school all or most of the time. However, fewer report they enjoy school always or most of the time; 50%, compared with 58% last year. Also similar to last year the majority (81%) said that more interesting lessons are the most important thing to help them learn more.

Bullying and feeling safe

The picture of bullying is a mixed one. Thirty-nine percent of young people said they had been bullied at school. An increased number (11%) said that bullying was not a problem in their school. Despite these more positive findings over a quarter said bullying was a significant worry for them and fewer young people (35%) said their schools dealt with bullying well. Although a smaller number than last year, there is still one in nine who responded that they felt unsafe in school, or going to and from school.

Alcohol, smoking and drugs

Although a smaller number of 10-15 year olds than last year reported they got drunk regularly, this figure is still high at almost one in six. A quarter of them said they had never had an alcoholic drink.

Three quarters of children and young people have never smoked a cigarette. This is a slight improvement on last year’s finding although a small number (4%) smoked every day.

The large majority (86%) of 13 to 15 year olds said they have never taken drugs. This is an increase from last year; however at least 6% responded that they had used drugs in the last four weeks.

Health

As last year, the survey found that the vast majority of children consider themselves to be quite or very healthy. Over 90% report that they eat at least one portion of fruit and vegetables each day, two thirds at least three or four portions, while only a quarter report eating the recommended five portions per day.

More than nine out of ten said they took part in sports or other physical activity for at least 30 minutes in the last week. Just over one third of children and young people spent at least 30 minutes doing sport or other active things almost every day in the last week. Four percent of 10 to 15 year olds said they did not take part in these activities at all.

The full report is at…

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/Publications-and-research/Documents-by-type/Statistics/TellUs3-National-Report

£13m will shortly be shared between 20 areas to help them to set up Intensive Intervention Projects that will challenge and support youngsters in trouble.   .

Evidence has shown that these types of projects are effective in turning around the lives of young people and their families through a highly targeted package that will both challenge young people – and their parents if necessary – to do better, as well as support them in overcoming their problems.

The projects will be set up in 20 areas across the country between 2008/09 – 2010/11 meaning that up to 3000 young people are expected to benefit in total by the end of this period.

Background

The bidding process yielded 141 Expressions of Interest by 8th August which were considered by the relevant government offices ahead of an assessment panel comprising officials from DCSF, Home Office, Youth Justice Board and two of the Government Offices.

50 bids were judged strong enough to proceed to the next stage. 2. A cross-departmental assessment panel was convened on 30th September and bids were ranked on their ability to demonstrate evidence against 6 critical scoring factors which are listed below.

a. Demonstration of a fully integrated approach and clear multi agency working.
b. Approach in line with IIP guidance including intensity, key worker approach and background.
c. Specification of target groups and outcomes.
d. Balance of approach between sanctions and support.
e. Evidence of relevant governance and commissioning process and timescales.
f. Innovation and additionality.

The Youth Taskforce undertook a further moderation exercise which sought to ensure an appropriate geographic spread of projects as well as a proportionate number of Third Sector led projects being successful. This process has taken into account the local area profile including population, overall level of deprivation (IMD), family and household structure and key local outcome data including under 18 conception rates, NEET rates, first time entrants to criminal justice system, substance misuse, perceptions of anti-social behaviour and educational attainment

The Youth Taskforce Action Plan committed £13m to help deliver Challenge and Support projects. These projects will ensure that a co-ordinated approach is taken to the delivery of support alongside anti-social behaviour enforcement measures on young people. This includes ensuring that all ASBOs are accompanied with an ISO or appropriate support. The projects will ensure that at every stage local services are working to assess young people’s needs and to offer appropriate support to young people involved in, or at risk of, anti-social behaviour.

The successful Intensive Intervention project

Gateshead
East Sussex
Sandwell
Bolton
Peterborough
Newcastle
Southampton
Newham
Manchester
Sheffield
Haringey
Middlesbrough
Bournemouth
Walsall
Nottingham
Northamptonshire
Trafford
Liverpool
Swindon
Birmingham

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