Youth Social Action in Education
Great education leaders know that education is about more than grades. Schools and colleges get students ready for life, equipping them to be active citizens – both today and in the future. In fact, when young people get involved in social action, it’s usually through their school or college.
When a young person takes part in meaningful social action it can improve their grades, transform their character and grow their sense of well-being. Those who take part are also more likely to feel engaged with their school or college, and ultimately develop the skills employers want.
Interested in embedding social action in education? Take the first step and make a pledge: https://www.iwill.org.uk/organisations/pledge
Why should schools and colleges embrace youth social action?
What is the role of schools in supporting youth social action?
Education is the key route to participation
Most young people get involved in social action through schools and colleges. When they do, the majority take part because they want to get involved, not because they have to. From stimulating peer tutoring in the classroom, to partnering with local organisations to help their students make an impact or creating whole school activities to improve the local community; schools and colleges can support a wide variety of social action.
What do teachers think?
Over the last three years, more and more primary and secondary school teachers indicate that they see social action as part of their school’s culture and practice. However, fewer than a quarter say that the majority of their students take part regularly. Primary school teachers are also less likely to say social action is embedded into their school’s culture – just 48% of primary school teachers believe it is compared with 73% of secondary school teachers in 2018.
Young people from lower-income backgrounds are less likely to participate
When polled, teachers that work in schools with a high proportion of low-income young people are less likely to say social action is a part of their school’s culture & practice than those who teach more affluent students. Many young people from low-income backgrounds are not accessing the wide range of benefits that participation in social action can provide.
How can my school or college support youth social action?
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to supporting social action in a school or college. It’s also often most effective when developed by and aimed at the unique needs of the local community. In 2016, 100 school and college leaders identified four key ingredients that enable schools and colleges to embed social action:
- Put social action at the heart of the school or college’s strategy and values
- From the senior leadership team to the individual students, social action is valuable in and of itself, but also supports other key priorities. This includes academic attainment, parental engagement, student destinations and meeting Ofsted criteria.
- Inspire and empower young people to lead their own social action
- This requires teachers asking young people their opinions and harnessing their passions.
- Recognise and reward social action
- This includes showcasing role models and recognising social action that takes place in or outside of the school or college.
- Build strong partnerships with local and national organisations
- This can involve working with other local schools, charities and employers to access opportunities for students make a real world impact with their social action
Case Studies from #iwill Partner Organisations
Case Study: Lapage Primary School
Making youth social action part of school [...]
BBC Bitesize spotlights #iwill Ambassadors
BBC Bitesize highlight the power of youth [...]
Case Study: Scottish School Children Protect the Environment
Our Lady's Primary #wildbottlesighting success! [...]
Resources to support youth social action in Education
- Transforming Young People and Communitieswebsiteadmin2019-10-18T17:35:58+00:00
Transforming Young People and Communities
- Embedding Inclusive Practices for YSAwebsiteadmin2019-10-18T17:37:11+00:00
Embedding Inclusive Practices for YSA
- Social Action at Portsmouth Collegewebsiteadmin2019-10-18T17:36:53+00:00
Social Action at Portsmouth College
- Scoping a Quality Framework for Youth Social ActionEmma Sims2019-11-21T11:32:54+00:00
Scoping a Quality Framework for Youth Social Action
- Why Employers Value Social Actionwebsiteadmin2019-10-18T17:36:13+00:00
Why Employers Value Social Action
- Behavioural Insight Team Social Action ResearchEmma Sims2019-11-05T16:23:00+00:00
Behavioural Insight Team Social Action Research
- Generation Change 6 Quality Principles Reportwebsiteadmin2019-10-18T17:37:38+00:00
Generation Change 6 Quality Principles Report
- Barriers to Schools in England Embedding YSAwebsiteadmin2019-10-18T17:36:48+00:00
Barriers to Schools in England Embedding YSA
- East Kent College Social Action bookletwebsiteadmin2019-10-18T17:37:20+00:00
East Kent College Social Action booklet
- POWER: 5 Ways to Embed Youth Social ActionEmma Sims2019-10-18T17:38:07+00:00
POWER: 5 Ways to Embed Youth Social Action
- Social Action Boosts Social Mobilitywebsiteadmin2019-10-18T17:36:33+00:00
Social Action Boosts Social Mobility
