Emeritus Prof Christopher May

Around a million young people in the UK (aged between 16-24) are not in education, employment or training (the so-called NEETs).

One key factor for the persistence of this marginalisation of young people from activities that have longer term impact on birth heir wellbeing & income, is the role of schools in surging such rejection of (or exclusion from) such early life opportunities.

Looking at how schools can help NEETs before they become NEETs is the key!

#education
https://theconversation.com/the-school-you-go-to-affects-whether-you-become-neet-new-research-279365

The school you go to affects whether you become Neet – new research

With 1 million unemployed young people across the UK, school culture may have impacted their success rate

The Conversation
Apr 3 at 6:04amWeb
Show threadDoug Belshaw16h ago
@ChrisMayLA6 I fail to see how schools hold "the" key. This is a systemic issue with multi-factor causes.
Show threadEmeritus Prof Christopher May16h ago

@dajb

Well, the research establishes an association between schools & the propensity to become a NEET; but they accept its is just an association - my feeling is that schools can be key to shifting that propensity, but you are right there are deeper social structural issues that feed into this too.... schools are a necessary area of action but not a necessarily a sufficient one

Show threadDoug Belshaw16h ago

@ChrisMayLA6 Indeed, the research shows this because schools are the source of the data.

Schools can play a role, but (as ever) *investing* in poorer areas helps massively.

It's a classic compounding feedback loop. If I'm a young person from an area with no jobs and people out of work, then I've no-one to ask for advice. Why wouldn't I want to just live at home and hang out with my mates?

The problem with schools as the locus of 'advice' for young people is that most teachers don't have much experience of the world outside of formal education.

Anyway, rant over 😉

Show threadEmeritus Prof Christopher May16h ago

@dajb

Hmmm.... I know a lot of teachers & I think given the right support they can make a real difference, but equally I'm not disagreeing with or discounting your central point - perhaps I should have said 'one of the keys' not 'the key'.... I think broadly we're on the same page

Show threadDoug Belshaw16h ago
@ChrisMayLA6 Oh I think teachers are great. I used to be one, as was my dad and my wife (and most of her family). I'm coming at this from a "let's not blame schools for the ills of society" angle 👍
Show threadEmeritus Prof Christopher May15h ago

@dajb

aha, sure; am on board with that

Show threadHerefordrob16h ago
@ChrisMayLA6
The government could redefine work, maybe not as something that contributes to the economy via tax but action, which develops community resilience and connection.
Ultimately, care in its many forms has to be a recognised part of the economy.
Show threadEmeritus Prof Christopher May16h ago

@Herefordrob

Yes, it would be interesting to know how many NEETS are actually young carers for instance

Show threadHerefordrob16h ago
@ChrisMayLA6
Definitely, the figures exist though far from thorough and not really considered as "contributing" other than a philanthropic carers allowance. Much of which goes unclaimed.