The Governments recently announced Curriculum Review is an important step to rebalance the offer to pupils by maintaining high academic expectations with access to subjects like art, music and drama. Often they give a sense of purpose and achievement and studies show they can boost attendance. But improving the pupils experience at school is just part of the story.
The challenges facing our young people in their lives are stark and worrying. Many say they are lonely, feel unsafe and too often lack an adult in their life who they say they can trust. When they are not at school, most say they stay in their bedroom, connected to an online community which is often as dangerous as the real world community.
It is staggering that for almost two decades Governments have had no youth strategy and have cut funding on youth projects. Critics might say that since young people can’t vote they don’t count. We are going to try to put that right. We’ve started to increase funding for places to go, things to do and provide someone they can turn to for support. Sport is excellent for providing all of those things.
Young people are the best source of knowing the problems and best at knowing what to do to put things right. For example local schools like St Thomas More working with Citizens UK campaigned for mental health support in schools, an idea which was picked up by Government. We are right to be concerned as are parents who are often angry at the apparent lack of future for our children. We aim to put that right.