Programme achieves success with underachieving youths

Citation

(2003), "Programme achieves success with underachieving youths", Education + Training, Vol. 45 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.2003.00445aab.003

Programme achieves success with underachieving youths

Programme achieves success with underachieving youths

All young people need appropriate preparation for the rapidly changing workplace, but underachieving boys and young men appear to be especially reluctant to seek and accept advice, while being particularly badly affected by recent changes in the world of work. The "Into Work" programme was developed and delivered by Working with Men, a not-for-profit organization that supports the development of work with men through projects, resources, publications, training and consultancy. More than 50, 14 and 15-year-olds, identified by their schools as being "at risk" of underachieving, took part in the classroom and workplace-based programme, delivered in three south London schools.

A report on the programme shows that it engaged the men straight away because they saw its relevance for their futures. Its practical focus and use of discussion-based materials fitted their preferred learning styles. Classroom-management techniques were rarely needed. An expected result was that the programme helped to refocus the participants on their school work, helping them to recognize the importance of getting examination results needed for their future careers.

All the young men chose to be assessed on the basis of competence levels, rather than attendance, despite their "underachieving" status. They wanted their skills to be measured, but not by written examination. The programme worked because the workers always used a practical focus, discussion-based materials and, most importantly, engaged with the young men individually and expected them to reciprocate.

Schools took some time to integrate the programme into the curriculum. There were initial difficulties in identifying appropriate young men to take part. Schools preferred those "at risk" to be in core and option lessons. They tended to see problems as the young men's inability to use what the school had to offer, rather than difficulties with what was on offer. Schools often looked at the short-term value of non-curricular programmes, rather than the longer term.

A particular set of skills and approaches was needed to develop this type of programme with underachieving young men. As New Deal, Connexions and a range of other initiatives target this group, there may be a skill shortage among those able and willing to work with underachieving young men.

The full report, Underachieving Young Men Preparing for Work: A Report for Practitioners, by Trefor Lloyd, is published for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation by York Publishing Services, 64 Hallfield Road, York YO31 7ZQ, price £17.95. The findings are available on the Internet, at: www.jrf.org.uk.