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*Content warning: contains discussion of self-harm and suicide.* Please call the Samaritans on 116 123 or contact [email protected] if you are in distress or need help with any of the issues discussed. Is professional burnout inevitable? Ndidi doesn't think it is but Laura thinks it is inevitable for some people. This weeks guests are Samuel Kasumu, a former Special Advisor to Prime Minister Boris Johnson where he held the Civil Society and Communities brief and career and burnout coach, Jo Howard. The group discuss personal responsibility around workload, being overwhelmed versus being busy and whether burnout is an issue society can actually solve. Like educational podcasts? You’re bound to learn something new on every episode of #AreYouConvinced.

Do schools deserve an extra £15billion? Laura thinks that other people deserve it more and for once, Ndidi pretty much agrees! This weeks guests are Former head of the Education Endowment Foundation and former Covid Education Recovery Commissioner, Kevan Collins and senior adviser to Ark schools and a senior fellow at the Institute for Government, Sam Freedman.  The group discuss what other services could benefit from the money, how schools could spend the money and the urgency of protecting children's futures. Like educational podcasts? You’re bound to learn something new on every episode of #AreYouConvinced. This episode was recorded in September 2021    

Is univeristy worth it? Ndidi thinks it's an important key to unlocking a bright future but Laura isn't sure on the financial balance around it This week's guests are Shakira Martin, Head of Student Experience at Rose Bruford College and David Gallagher, Chief Executive Officer at NCFE The group discuss what a degree represents, whether univeristy is important for life skills and the value of university alternatives Like educational podcasts? You’re bound to learn something new on every episode of #AreYouConvinced

Have GCSEs had their day? Laura thinks they can't be the be all and end all, Ndidi agrees but isn't sure there's a better alternative. This weeks guests are Daisy Christodoulou, Director of Education at No More Marking and Tom Sherrington, Education Consultant and author.  The group discuss whether more or less of the curriculum should be assessed, the purpose of GCSEs and what those alternatives could be. Like educational podcasts? You’re bound to learn something new on every episode of #AreYouConvinced.

Should young people have the day off school to attend protests? Laura thinks so but Ndidi isn't sold on the logistics of it. This weeks guests are chief operating officer of the school student-led activist organisation Burst the Bubble UK, Eli Sassoon and founder & CMO of Thred Media, Jenk Oz. The group discuss how to encourage activism in the classsroom, whether one day makes a difference and how activist organisations could be more considerate towards young people. Like educational podcasts? You’re bound to learn something new on every episode of #AreYouConvinced.

Laura and Ndidi share highlights and audience reactions to the season.     A special thank you to everyone that has taken the time to engage, tweet, rate and review us. We’ve seen all your comments and we’re excited that you love the show as much as we love making it. 

Can youth workers support young people at risk of violence better than teachers? Surprisingly, Laura thinks so, and Ndidi has always been behind a joined-up approach between schools and youth centres to tackle this ever-difficult issue. But how can we get tangible results that support young people in this situation?   We have some impressive guests to help answer that question – our first guest is Leroy Logan MBE, Author and former Superintendent in the MET Police. He is also a former chair and founding member of the Black Police Association. Our second guest is Kimberley Campbell-Lamb, Head of Bedfordshire’s Violence and Exploitation Reduction Unit.   The group talk about the importance of youth workers in areas where gangs are prevalent, how early intervention is key, and how desperate teachers are for money to be spent on broader youth services to support young people at risk of violence.   This week’s #AskYouth question is: “What services or professionals are there to help young people who are involved in violent activity, or at risk of being harmed?” We hear from a 21-year-old student and a 24-year-old assistant producer.   Like educational podcasts? You’re bound to learn something new on every episode of #AreYouConvinced.

Ndidi worked in the formal Education sector for a number of years; first as a teacher, then at Education charity Teach First before moving on to Pearson. But it’s only since she began working in the youth sector, as CEO for UK Youth, that she realised the wealth of expertise outside of the formal education bubble. She thinks teachers and youth workers should be trained together.   We are joined by Reuben Moore, Executive Director for Programme Development, Teach First, and David McQueen, an international speaker and entrepreneur who has explored how young people are inspired by good leadership – not just from adults but their peers too. Together, they discuss educational inequality, teacher workloads and how there needs to be a shift in approach to the way teachers and youth workers work together.   This week’s #AskYouth question is: “What does youth work mean to you?” We hear from a 13-year-old and a 16-year-old who attend Wigan Youth Zone.   Like educational podcasts? You’re bound to learn something new on every episode of #AreYouConvinced.

From September 2020 all schools across England were mandated to teach sex and relationship education including the very important topic of consent. However, there are many things that are supposed to be on the curriculum that aren’t. Laura puts forward her proposition that consent should be taught in schools, in conjunction with police to highlight the legal aspects young people need to know. Ndidi disagrees…   We are joined by Bradley O’Donoghue, a Volunteers Coordinator and Facilitator at Tender – an arts charity working with young people to prevent domestic abuse and sexual violence. Jonny Uttley is our second guest – the CEO of The Education Alliance, an established Multi Academy Trust that is developing collaborative partnerships with academies across the Humber region. The group discuss the power of a pastoral environment in schools to make change, sexual harassment, and how we need to teach consent and relationships in an accessible and enjoyable way to not scare young people.   This week’s #AskYouth question is “Who do you think should teach consent to young people? Why?” We talk to three young people aged 20-24 to get their views.   Like educational podcasts? You’re bound to learn something new on every episode of #AreYouConvinced.

Ndidi is exhausted that race is still framed as a topic of debate. She wants to stop talking about race, and focus on lived experiences of people from Black, Asian, and ethnic minorities to better understand and improve experiences for young people and adults. We are joined by Jon Cornejo who is an anti-racism consultant, as well as an organiser at Charity So White. Amjad Ali is our second guest – the Co-Founder of BAMEed, a movement initiated in response to the continual call for intersectionality and diversity in the education sector. The group discuss how we need to reframe the conversation, how it compares to gender-based violence, and how the idea of race is flawed. Be prepared to be challenged, and to learn a lot from the experts! This week’s #AskYouth question is “Do you think we need to talk more about race? Why? – we talk to a 13-year-old rep from Brent Youth Parliament, as well as an 18-year-old student and activist. Like educational podcasts? You’re bound to learn something new on every episode of #AreYouConvinced.

*Content warning: discussion of self-harm, suicide and other mental illness.*   Please call the Samaritans on 116 123 or contact [email protected] if you are in distress or need help with any of the issues discussed.   Even before coronavirus hit, many young people were struggling with their mental health. But do we know how to address youth mental health issues? Laura questions what we need to focus on when it comes to a spectrum of mental health struggles for young people.   Head of Children and Young People’s Mental Health at Centre for Mental Health, Kadra Abdinasir joins us along with Natasha Devon, Founder of the Mental Health Media Charter and LBC presenter. The panel discuss whether the system is too crisis driven, and how more opportunities need to be made to address inequalities in mental health for Black and Asian young people, as well as those that identify as LGBTQ+.   This week’s #AskYouth question is “Do you think there is a mental health crisis for young people? Why?” – a 23-year-old medical student and a 20-year-old with experience of the mental health system give us their views.   Like educational podcasts? You’re bound to learn something new on every episode of #AreYouConvinced.

In a post-pandemic environment, will a cross-sector strategy secure young people’s futures? Ndidi tries to convince Laura that this is vital, but Laura thinks otherwise. With special guests Anne Longfield, former Children’s Commissioner of England, and Jonathan Simons, Director at Public First and Head of The Education Strategy along for the ride, get ready for disagreement, persuasion, and being encouraged to step away from your siloes and join cross-sector forces! This week’s #AskYouth question is “What kinds of support do young people need coming out of lockdown?” – we speak to three young people aged 11-20 to get their views. Like educational podcasts? You’re bound to learn something new on every episode of #AreYouConvinced.