NYA launches review of youth workers in schools
Joe Lepper
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
A review has launched into youth workers' collaboration with schools to support pupil’s learning, mental health and employment prospects.
The review has been launched by the National Youth Agency (NYA) and is co-chaired by former children’s minister Tim Loughton MP and former shadow education secretary Kate Green.
Schools, young people and youth organisations are being surveyed and invited to submit evidence through the inquiry. Online hearings are also being staged.
The review coincides with the release of the government’s schools white paper, which reiterated the government's ‘levelling up’ ambitions around improving school attainment levels.
The pandemic’s impact on young people’s wellbeing and attainment is a key driver of the review.
NYA director for youth work Abbee McLatchie said that since the health crisis “there has been a greater sense of youth work and schools coming together”.
🚨Call for evidence🚨
— NYA (@natyouthagency) March 29, 2022
Attn all schools and youth orgs, a call for evidence is being made to review the role and contribution of youth work with schools.
Please complete the survey below to take part!https://t.co/uESUpdK4xk@timloughton @KateGreenSU @Ndidi1st @bycChair pic.twitter.com/t0EgbOLRho
“A national focus for schools on academic attainment is in danger of missing out on the diversity of needs and challenges that young people face, coming through the pandemic,” said Loughton.
“Our inquiry will look at the range of provision and collaboration of youth work with schools, for young people to engage in education, learn new skills and improve their life chances.”
Green added: “We need to be clear what we want for young people from education, their mental health and wider wellbeing.
“This means listening to and working with young people, harnessing the best of schools and youth work to deliver real action that levels up education.”
Earlier this month calls were made to embed youth workers into schools after it emerged a 15-year-old girl in Hackney, known as Child Q, was strip searched by police while on her period after being wrongly accused of carrying drugs.
Green Party London Assembly member Caroline Russell said that children “need youth workers not police officers in our schools”.