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Young people in 20 of Kent's secondary schools are
benefiting from the input of
 Community Youth Tutors.
Employed within
Kent Youth Service, these school based youth workers are
deployed in the schools to improve the learning environment for
pupils, often developing out of school clubs and activities that
improve the quality of life for young people.
The schools have been carefully chosen and are in areas where
there are high levels of deprivation or poor results. Schools
involved are already noticing a difference in their pupils, who are
more motivated and keeping out of trouble. The school is becoming a
more attractive place for them, thanks to the Community Youth
Tutors.
These tutors spend around 40% of their work time in school
during normal school hours, developing and delivering lessons such
as Personal Health, Social Education (PHSE) and Citizenship. Some
run the school council or have timetabled sessions with pupils who
are truanting or who face exclusion.
The rest of their working day is spent in school after normal
learning hours. After school programmes are developed to give
pupils something constructive to do out of school hours. Sports, IT
and drama clubs are proving popular distractions which help these
young people have a better relationship with their school.
In the evenings, many of the Community Youth Tutors work with a
small team of part-time colleagues to provide a youth club for
young people in the local area, or operate as detached youth
workers by delivering street-based youth work.
Outside of term time, the Community Youth Tutor will also work
closely with their Youth Service colleagues to offer an extensive
programme of holiday activities that frequently include residential
trips and adventurous activities.
The Community Youth Tutors are a popular addition to the school.
They have a formal role in the daytime classroom setting, and more
of an informal relationship with young people out of school hours.
This is just one way that KCC recognises the importance of informal
education.
A recent review (summer 2007) showed the 20 Community Youth
Tutors have a high profile in the schools and are respected and
valued by the young people who see them as someone to trust and go
to.
It showed schools want more of their time and in one special
school the work of the tutor was complimented in a recent Ofsted
report of the school - particularly in relation to the contribution
made to the PSHE work of the school. |