Youth Online Survey – Much to Celebrate…

A recent survey of Year 10 students in Tameside schools suggests we have much to be proud about our young people.

Half of 14-15 year olds in Tameside completed the Online survey at the end of last year and much of what they said is very encouraging.

Although young people are used to hearing negative stories about themselves in the media and feel that the way they are portrayed in the press is not fair, the reality is that the vast majority give us much to celebrate in terms of their achievements, their behaviour and their aspirations. For example:

• 86% claim to have done something to help others in the four weeks leading up to the survey and more than half had helped raise money for a charitable cause during the last year.

• The vast majority do not smoke or use drugs

• Nine out of ten feel they have some great friends and often enjoy themselves and the majority feel confident most of the time.

• Only 1 in 4 claim to have had sex

However there are also causes for concern:

• Many young people feel bullying to be a big problem and nearly a quarter have been affected to some degree by violence at home.

• The minority who do smoke appear to be smoking more heavily than in 2006 whilst levels of alcohol use continue to be a concern.

• A third of those that had had sex did not use contraception on their first sexual experience,

• The experiences of pupils with learning difficulties or any sort of disability are not generally as positive as for other young people, for instance they are more likely to smoke or drink heavily and more likely to feel unsafe.

There are many other important findings within the survey which will be used to help plan and improve services. A report has also been produced for each school that took part as well as a report focussing on the experience of young people with learning difficulties or any sort of disability .
You can get hold of a summary version or the whole report 357.05 KB .