The Sutton Trust, a foundation which improves social mobility in the UK through evidence-based programmes, research and policy advocacy, released its Life Lessons Report.
“A staggering 90% of employers, teachers and young people say that essential life skills are as or more important than academic qualifications. These skills include (such as confidence, and team-work). Everyone should have the opportunity to develop them. It is vital that state schools embed the development of these skills in their ethos, curriculum and extracurricular activities.” Sir Peter Lampl, Chairman of the Sutton Trust and of the Education Endowment Foundation.
The Report reveals that across secondary schools in England, 78% of teachers surveyed say their school offers volunteering programmes to build their pupils’ life skills. However, just 8% of pupils aged 11-16 in England and Wales surveyed say they take part.
The new polling also finds there are big socio-economic gaps in access to extra-curricular activities, with pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds less likely to take up activities than their better off peers (46% compared to 66%).
MCR Pathways is determined to help transform the education outcomes, career opportunities and life chances of Glasgow’s care experienced and most disadvantaged young people.
Talent Tasters
Our Young Glasgow Talent programme supports the most disadvantaged young people from S1 to S6 and beyond. Our S1/S2 Groupwork syllabus currently operating in 15 schools delivering to 384 young people. It consists of lessons across that focus on practical life, emotional intelligence and employability skills, including debating and speaking. The Report says just 2% of the young people surveyed in English schools take part in such opportunities.
Talent Tasters, such as this visit to The Loft design and branding agency, take MCR young people out of school and into the workplace. While attending they’re inspired by encouraging staff to explore their aspirations.
From S3 onwards, we match our young people with a volunteer mentor. Our young people can also take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award. DofE. Through participating in expeditions and volunteering they build team-work and ‘soft’ skills. This operates alongside the Saltire Award which involved 81 young people completing 1,860 hours volunteering in 2016/17 for a variety of charities.
YGT’s own Talent Taster programme gives real-life, hands-on experiences of the work place. It’s delivered in partnership with businesses large and small across Glasgow.
Mentors and Tasters are vital in sparking aspirations and giving our young people the skills to ensure the best career opportunities. The Sutton Trust reports that 68% of employers surveyed by YouGov say those who leave school after A Levels/Further Education don’t have the required skills for the workplace.
MCR Vision
MCR’s vision is that the most vulnerable in our city will not miss out simply because of their circumstances. We will help them build the skills and confidence to transform their education outcomes, career opportunities and life chances.
MCR and Glasgow City Council continuously monitor the effect and outcomes of our programme. GCC’s 2017 MCR Impact Report shows that MCR young people are staying at school longer, achieving more and leaving school to more positive destinations than those vulnerable young people who don’t have these opportunities. GCC will embed our programme in every secondary school in the city. Ensuring more disadvantaged young people can transform their education outcomes, career opportunities and life chances.
Help Glasgow’s Young People
Our expansion into all 30 Glasgow secondaries means we have many more inspiring young people asking for MCR’s help. They need mentors to make a huge difference to their confidence, educational outcomes and future life chances. Can you help them? Find out more about becoming a mentor.
Can your organisation help? Join our Talent Taster programme, alongside our partners and help young people! We can’t wait to work with you to offer our young people tasters of university, college and employment.
We’re always looking for new mentors to reach the new young people who are coming on board. Help us spread the word by letting your friends and family know how worthwhile mentoring can be!
