Here’s what young people across the North East think. The case studies have been shorten to make space and if anyone wants the full docunment contact the youth advisory board.
Bangladeshi Group
This group of young people are all members of an organisation based in South Tyneside and they focus on the needs of young Bangladeshi males who otherwise maybe excluded from mainstream activities.
Good points of school
1. Enjoy more practical studies e.g. graphics, sports, design technology, music lessons
2. Prefer subjects that have less writing and more doing!
3. Good, friendly teachers provide different teaching styles
4. Younger teachers are better, they are more fun!
5. Practical and related subjects are more useful e.g. drug and health information
Bad points of school
1. Too much writing- learn more by listening and performing activities
2. Religious education- young people felt they are only allowed to study certain religions
3. Life skills like how to budget should be taught in school
4. Teachers give more attention and support to better achieving students and neglect poorer performing students
General
1. Revision aids aren’t suitable and don’t help
2. more of practical exams
3. provide water to students while taking exams
4. bus services to school should be free
5. Uniform…are they necessary?
Careers
• Some of the group had ideas what they wanted to do but were under the impression that this was unrealistic and improbable. The group were asked why this was and they replied because of society and discrimination towards black people. They commented that the jobs that they believed were realistic were poor because of today’s society and opportunities for Asian people.
• One young person suggested that he would like to pursue a career in science and medicine. When asked how he would do this he said that he would go to college or university. When asked what this career choice entailed he was unsure.
DO YOU THINK BEING BANGLADESHI/MUSLIM AFFECTS YOU AT SCHOOL?
• Group believe that they receive racial discrimination from pupils and teachers.
• The group said teachers would turn a “blind eye” when they hear racial remarks being made by students.
• Because of this racism the group said that they often enter a class in a mood and end up getting kicked out of the lesson because the racism wasn’t addressed.
WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE IN SCHOOL IF YOU HAD THE POWER?
• The group highlighted other subjects that they would like to see – Mixed Martial Arts, Anger Management (to help control of anger when racist issues arise), mind body and soul classes
• To have breakfasts in school of fruits to contribute to their 5 a day recommendation.
As we can see there are many issues in education that they felt were affected by racial discrimination. Yet the group also highlighted very good messages such as younger teachers are more motivated and enthusiastic etc.
The group also raised some messages about exams and these could be very interesting as everyone knows the pressure young people undertake during exams. Another key issue at heart is also the suggestion that more practical lessons are needed which is a big talking point in today’s society!
YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLED IN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION
WHAT ARE THE GOOD POINTS OF SCHOOL THAT YOU LIKED?
• Enjoyed more practical subjects e.g. sports, graphics.
• Good teachers.
1. Those that listened to the young person’s problem then advised them on how to overcome it.
2. Those that didn’t encourage pupils to get others into trouble which led to pupils being in lessons and not being thrown out.
WHAT ARE THE BAD POINTS OF SCHOOL THAT YOU DISLIKED?
• BAD TEACHING
• Pupils not receiving the help they need to move forward.
• Good performing students receiving more help than the under achieving students.
• Teachers are not listening to the problems that the pupils have.
• Lack of encouragement from teachers and work being undervalued.
• Teachers often don’t teach enough and refer to text books to often.
LESSONS/OPTIONS
• Lessons are boring and repetitive and lack creativeness.
• Some subjects are of no use in life
• Pupils desired options are not being presented to them.
• Certain options/subjects are unattainable because of limited spaces.
• More vocational options for boys than girls.
WHY DO YOU LIKE/PREFER ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION?
• STAFF
• There is a great level of mutual support between the staff and the pupils.
• Pupils learn more from a more relaxed teaching approach.
• Pupil’s problems resolved easier as the staff listen and allow the pupils to express their opinions.
• Lessons are better because the size of the group is smaller.
• Easier to learn because more help available because of less pupils and the environment being quieter with less distractions.
• Lessons more vocational which leads to pupils learning more.
• Pupils are presented with more opportunities that wouldn’t have been available to them at school e.g. presentations at conferences.
• The pupils are presented with options that are more suited to their needs.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN TRAINING COURSES?
• Training courses to be more hands on and practical as it is easier to learn new skills.
• Training time divided 50/50 between lesson time and practical time.
• Group believed that the new Foundation diploma should have more than 10 hour’s practical study.
• The courses have too much writing involved.
• Access to the training courses should be made easier.
• Travel expenses should be paid
WHAT CAREERS DO YOU WANT AND HOW CAN YOU PURSUE THEM?
Most of the young people want to be involved in work that is a lot more practical than theoretical (a trade). This then comes back to the last question to what they want to see more in training courses and relates to how they stated they wanted a more practical education. With all these answers it was then said that schools should start giving training for such occupations at an earlier year so that young people are half familiar with the course and occupation before they start.
WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE IN SCHOOL IF YOU HAD THE POWER?
• Lessons to be made more relaxed with fewer students in.
• Lessons to incorporate workshops in order to gain more practical skills and it’s an easier way to learn.
• The pupils that are sent out of lessons should be given a time out instead of being dismissed for the entire lesson.
CONCLUSION
Two common occurrences from the group is that they feel they are not helped when they need it most which causes some bad behaviour and that more practical lessons are needed as they feel they are more beneficial when learning
A GROUP OF REFUGEE GIRLS FROM ZIMBABWE
The group are female refugees from Zimbabwe that are all in education. The group work together with Save the Children and focus on the needs of young refugee’s that enter the country and the problems that they face.
WHAT ARE THE GOOD POINTS OF SCHOOL THAT YOU LIKE?
• A chance to make new friends and that these new friends would provide them with help in school.
• Regarding the teachers, the group had mixed feelings. The majority found that younger teachers are better as they are more energetic and teach in a more relaxed environment incorporating humour into their methods.
• There is little discrimination in the schools that they have went to. They thought this had a lot to do with the schools being Christian schools.
• Uniforms – Good because no body can be teased for their sense of fashion e.g. some people cant afford certain clothes.
• Connexions – Very helpful when located within a school or college. There is advice there when needed and student services really helpful.
• The group thought that being rewarded with merits etc is good because you know it has been acknowledged that you are improving and you are then encouraged to do well.
WHAT ARE THE BAD POINTS OF SCHOOL THAT YOU DISLIKE?
• TEACHERS – The group found that some teachers don’t address bad pupils enough which affect their learning. They believed this was because some teachers could not be bothered to tackle the situation.
• The group also thought teachers could be a bit more conscious when discussing certain race issues e.g. a teacher says “a black person” then the whole of the class would turn and look at any black pupils and they feel singled out.
• That some teachers do not explain anything and don’t interact with the pupils thus leading to the teacher giving a type of presentation and not making sure the pupils understand.
• Teachers speak in far too complex jargon which a lot of the pupils don’t understand.
• Regarding lessons, the group feel that the pupils that achieve higher get treated better and receive more help and they thought that the pupils that achieve lower should receive more help because they need it.
• The group feel that practical lessons are better because you learn more quickly. They think some subjects have far too much theory and are just a case of copying things from a board or text book.
• EMA - Unfair because everyone should get it. The group don’t understand why the government presume that parents who earn a lot will provide their children with the money to stay on at school.
HOW DOES COMING FROM A DIFFERENT COUNTRY EFFECT YOUR EDUCATION?
The group felt that there are many ways in which their education is effected as a result of being from a different country. The two issues highlighted were racism and that a lot of the time they felt undermined by the teachers which could cause a lot of problems for them. Below are the highlighted problems;
• If one of the foreign pupils were in need of help because they didn’t understand the work, the teacher would state that they didn’t understand it because English is not their first language.
• A teacher would undermine a foreign pupil in front of their peers by speaking very slowly and mouthing the words.
• The group felt that limitations were placed upon them because of English being their 2nd language. Teachers would treat them to specially indicating that they thought they were not as able as other pupils. This led to the foreign pupils thinking “Is there something wrong with me?”
• Limitations were again placed on foreign pupils where they are placed in classes that are far below their intelligence level on the basis that English is not their 1st language.
• The group felt that teachers need to realise that English is taught at a very young age in other country’s and that refugee’s that come to England can actually speak very good English.
RACISM
• The group also raised issues that they were treated better in cases by teachers because they were of a different race. This then led to racism from other pupils because they realised that they were getting preferential treatment.
• group felt that a lot of the time they would be blamed for something because of them being of a different race. Yet this also had an opposite side when if a foreign pupil was doing wrong a teacher would not “tell them off” because of them being of a different race and would blame it on another pupil.
WHAT CAREERS DO YOU WANT AND HOW CAN YOU PUSUE THEM?
The great point of the group’s career choices are that their aspirations are really high even though they have many barriers to overcome. Yet we see that even though they have ideas in their minds of what they want to do in the future they have a problem of not knowing which route to take to achieve this.
The group also highlighted that they feel that many pupils cannot achieve their aspirations because of the peer pressure that is placed upon them. This can be because of the area they live being a deprived place and them growing up thinking that they will be there forever. Also because of the groups they associate with putting this impression upon them.
WHAT WOULD YO LIKE TO SEE IN TRAINING COURSES?
• To do more hands on work and practical activities.
• For the course to be easier and for there to be less coursework.
• That there should be more access to certain facilities such as computers.
• For teachers to be trained about racism and discrimination in order for it to be addressed better.
• That there should be more placements on courses so that a student gets more related learning.
• More choice of courses
• There should be intervals in lessons to have a quick break and recharge the batteries.
WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE IN SCHOOL IF YOU HAD THE POWER?
• For all pupils to be treated the same and for everyone to be recognised as an equal. (Equality, no discrimination, no favouritism.)
• Classes to be made more fun, easier and relaxed
• For exams to come around less frequently because of pupils being under a constant stress.
• For there to be less homework as the group feel they don’t get enough social time as the work eats into this.
CONCLUSION
As we can see there are many problems and barriers that young refugee’s face when they enter education. One issue that has been raised that seems to pop up a lot is the fact that young people have high career aspirations yet they don’t know how to pursue them. Another is the key that young people from foreign country’s should not be under estimated and there should be more work done to establishing what academic level the foreign pupils are at!
Bangladeshi Group
This group of young people are all members of an organisation based in South Tyneside and they focus on the needs of young Bangladeshi males who otherwise maybe excluded from mainstream activities.
Good points of school
1. Enjoy more practical studies e.g. graphics, sports, design technology, music lessons
2. Prefer subjects that have less writing and more doing!
3. Good, friendly teachers provide different teaching styles
4. Younger teachers are better, they are more fun!
5. Practical and related subjects are more useful e.g. drug and health information
Bad points of school
1. Too much writing- learn more by listening and performing activities
2. Religious education- young people felt they are only allowed to study certain religions
3. Life skills like how to budget should be taught in school
4. Teachers give more attention and support to better achieving students and neglect poorer performing students
General
1. Revision aids aren’t suitable and don’t help
2. more of practical exams
3. provide water to students while taking exams
4. bus services to school should be free
5. Uniform…are they necessary?
Careers
• Some of the group had ideas what they wanted to do but were under the impression that this was unrealistic and improbable. The group were asked why this was and they replied because of society and discrimination towards black people. They commented that the jobs that they believed were realistic were poor because of today’s society and opportunities for Asian people.
• One young person suggested that he would like to pursue a career in science and medicine. When asked how he would do this he said that he would go to college or university. When asked what this career choice entailed he was unsure.
DO YOU THINK BEING BANGLADESHI/MUSLIM AFFECTS YOU AT SCHOOL?
• Group believe that they receive racial discrimination from pupils and teachers.
• The group said teachers would turn a “blind eye” when they hear racial remarks being made by students.
• Because of this racism the group said that they often enter a class in a mood and end up getting kicked out of the lesson because the racism wasn’t addressed.
WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE IN SCHOOL IF YOU HAD THE POWER?
• The group highlighted other subjects that they would like to see – Mixed Martial Arts, Anger Management (to help control of anger when racist issues arise), mind body and soul classes
• To have breakfasts in school of fruits to contribute to their 5 a day recommendation.
As we can see there are many issues in education that they felt were affected by racial discrimination. Yet the group also highlighted very good messages such as younger teachers are more motivated and enthusiastic etc.
The group also raised some messages about exams and these could be very interesting as everyone knows the pressure young people undertake during exams. Another key issue at heart is also the suggestion that more practical lessons are needed which is a big talking point in today’s society!
YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLED IN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION
WHAT ARE THE GOOD POINTS OF SCHOOL THAT YOU LIKED?
• Enjoyed more practical subjects e.g. sports, graphics.
• Good teachers.
1. Those that listened to the young person’s problem then advised them on how to overcome it.
2. Those that didn’t encourage pupils to get others into trouble which led to pupils being in lessons and not being thrown out.
WHAT ARE THE BAD POINTS OF SCHOOL THAT YOU DISLIKED?
• BAD TEACHING
• Pupils not receiving the help they need to move forward.
• Good performing students receiving more help than the under achieving students.
• Teachers are not listening to the problems that the pupils have.
• Lack of encouragement from teachers and work being undervalued.
• Teachers often don’t teach enough and refer to text books to often.
LESSONS/OPTIONS
• Lessons are boring and repetitive and lack creativeness.
• Some subjects are of no use in life
• Pupils desired options are not being presented to them.
• Certain options/subjects are unattainable because of limited spaces.
• More vocational options for boys than girls.
WHY DO YOU LIKE/PREFER ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION?
• STAFF
• There is a great level of mutual support between the staff and the pupils.
• Pupils learn more from a more relaxed teaching approach.
• Pupil’s problems resolved easier as the staff listen and allow the pupils to express their opinions.
• Lessons are better because the size of the group is smaller.
• Easier to learn because more help available because of less pupils and the environment being quieter with less distractions.
• Lessons more vocational which leads to pupils learning more.
• Pupils are presented with more opportunities that wouldn’t have been available to them at school e.g. presentations at conferences.
• The pupils are presented with options that are more suited to their needs.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN TRAINING COURSES?
• Training courses to be more hands on and practical as it is easier to learn new skills.
• Training time divided 50/50 between lesson time and practical time.
• Group believed that the new Foundation diploma should have more than 10 hour’s practical study.
• The courses have too much writing involved.
• Access to the training courses should be made easier.
• Travel expenses should be paid
WHAT CAREERS DO YOU WANT AND HOW CAN YOU PURSUE THEM?
Most of the young people want to be involved in work that is a lot more practical than theoretical (a trade). This then comes back to the last question to what they want to see more in training courses and relates to how they stated they wanted a more practical education. With all these answers it was then said that schools should start giving training for such occupations at an earlier year so that young people are half familiar with the course and occupation before they start.
WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE IN SCHOOL IF YOU HAD THE POWER?
• Lessons to be made more relaxed with fewer students in.
• Lessons to incorporate workshops in order to gain more practical skills and it’s an easier way to learn.
• The pupils that are sent out of lessons should be given a time out instead of being dismissed for the entire lesson.
CONCLUSION
Two common occurrences from the group is that they feel they are not helped when they need it most which causes some bad behaviour and that more practical lessons are needed as they feel they are more beneficial when learning
A GROUP OF REFUGEE GIRLS FROM ZIMBABWE
The group are female refugees from Zimbabwe that are all in education. The group work together with Save the Children and focus on the needs of young refugee’s that enter the country and the problems that they face.
WHAT ARE THE GOOD POINTS OF SCHOOL THAT YOU LIKE?
• A chance to make new friends and that these new friends would provide them with help in school.
• Regarding the teachers, the group had mixed feelings. The majority found that younger teachers are better as they are more energetic and teach in a more relaxed environment incorporating humour into their methods.
• There is little discrimination in the schools that they have went to. They thought this had a lot to do with the schools being Christian schools.
• Uniforms – Good because no body can be teased for their sense of fashion e.g. some people cant afford certain clothes.
• Connexions – Very helpful when located within a school or college. There is advice there when needed and student services really helpful.
• The group thought that being rewarded with merits etc is good because you know it has been acknowledged that you are improving and you are then encouraged to do well.
WHAT ARE THE BAD POINTS OF SCHOOL THAT YOU DISLIKE?
• TEACHERS – The group found that some teachers don’t address bad pupils enough which affect their learning. They believed this was because some teachers could not be bothered to tackle the situation.
• The group also thought teachers could be a bit more conscious when discussing certain race issues e.g. a teacher says “a black person” then the whole of the class would turn and look at any black pupils and they feel singled out.
• That some teachers do not explain anything and don’t interact with the pupils thus leading to the teacher giving a type of presentation and not making sure the pupils understand.
• Teachers speak in far too complex jargon which a lot of the pupils don’t understand.
• Regarding lessons, the group feel that the pupils that achieve higher get treated better and receive more help and they thought that the pupils that achieve lower should receive more help because they need it.
• The group feel that practical lessons are better because you learn more quickly. They think some subjects have far too much theory and are just a case of copying things from a board or text book.
• EMA - Unfair because everyone should get it. The group don’t understand why the government presume that parents who earn a lot will provide their children with the money to stay on at school.
HOW DOES COMING FROM A DIFFERENT COUNTRY EFFECT YOUR EDUCATION?
The group felt that there are many ways in which their education is effected as a result of being from a different country. The two issues highlighted were racism and that a lot of the time they felt undermined by the teachers which could cause a lot of problems for them. Below are the highlighted problems;
• If one of the foreign pupils were in need of help because they didn’t understand the work, the teacher would state that they didn’t understand it because English is not their first language.
• A teacher would undermine a foreign pupil in front of their peers by speaking very slowly and mouthing the words.
• The group felt that limitations were placed upon them because of English being their 2nd language. Teachers would treat them to specially indicating that they thought they were not as able as other pupils. This led to the foreign pupils thinking “Is there something wrong with me?”
• Limitations were again placed on foreign pupils where they are placed in classes that are far below their intelligence level on the basis that English is not their 1st language.
• The group felt that teachers need to realise that English is taught at a very young age in other country’s and that refugee’s that come to England can actually speak very good English.
RACISM
• The group also raised issues that they were treated better in cases by teachers because they were of a different race. This then led to racism from other pupils because they realised that they were getting preferential treatment.
• group felt that a lot of the time they would be blamed for something because of them being of a different race. Yet this also had an opposite side when if a foreign pupil was doing wrong a teacher would not “tell them off” because of them being of a different race and would blame it on another pupil.
WHAT CAREERS DO YOU WANT AND HOW CAN YOU PUSUE THEM?
The great point of the group’s career choices are that their aspirations are really high even though they have many barriers to overcome. Yet we see that even though they have ideas in their minds of what they want to do in the future they have a problem of not knowing which route to take to achieve this.
The group also highlighted that they feel that many pupils cannot achieve their aspirations because of the peer pressure that is placed upon them. This can be because of the area they live being a deprived place and them growing up thinking that they will be there forever. Also because of the groups they associate with putting this impression upon them.
WHAT WOULD YO LIKE TO SEE IN TRAINING COURSES?
• To do more hands on work and practical activities.
• For the course to be easier and for there to be less coursework.
• That there should be more access to certain facilities such as computers.
• For teachers to be trained about racism and discrimination in order for it to be addressed better.
• That there should be more placements on courses so that a student gets more related learning.
• More choice of courses
• There should be intervals in lessons to have a quick break and recharge the batteries.
WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE IN SCHOOL IF YOU HAD THE POWER?
• For all pupils to be treated the same and for everyone to be recognised as an equal. (Equality, no discrimination, no favouritism.)
• Classes to be made more fun, easier and relaxed
• For exams to come around less frequently because of pupils being under a constant stress.
• For there to be less homework as the group feel they don’t get enough social time as the work eats into this.
CONCLUSION
As we can see there are many problems and barriers that young refugee’s face when they enter education. One issue that has been raised that seems to pop up a lot is the fact that young people have high career aspirations yet they don’t know how to pursue them. Another is the key that young people from foreign country’s should not be under estimated and there should be more work done to establishing what academic level the foreign pupils are at!
