Local associate Head teacher from The Hayfield School, Doncaster encourages students to make the most of their summer.
Jim Wainman, associate Head teacher at The Hayfield School is joining heads across the country to encourage teens in Doncaster to make the most of the school holidays, in order to get a head start in the new term and life beyond it.Supporting views from 200 secondary school teachers across the UK as part of a study by National Citizen Service (NCS), Mr Wainman agrees that students who have tried something new during the school holidays have a more positive attitude, are often more switched on and more focused than their peers on returning to school.
Jim Wainman supports hundreds of teachers across the country, including stars of Channel 4’s Educating the East End and Educating Essex, who are encouraging teens to reset after an intensive academic year and seek new and exciting opportunities.
He recommends taking part in the National Citizen Service (NCS) programme, a two-three week programme for 15-17 year olds across England and Northern Ireland, offering fun and discovery, whilst developing skills for work and life.
Mr Wainman says: “We have always encouraged students at The Hayfield School to make the most of any opportunity that may arise that broadens their experiences and horizons.
"The NCS (National Citizen Service) programme does exactly this. The programme not only enables the students to develop many much needed life and work skills, it also provides them with the chance to meet different young people and have some fun during the summer holidays. What better way to come back in September fully reinvigorated and ready to start their studies afresh.
"I would recommend to all young people who are eligible to participate in this programme to do so."
Recent research from NCS amongst 1,000 teens shows that, despite opportunities like NCS being available to them, more than four in ten students expect to run out of things to do and one in three are already experiencing “FOMO” (fear of missing out) towards their friends’ plans. On average, teens will cost their parents more than £500 over the six week holiday period, despite planning to spend 84 hours lying in, 75 hours watching Netflix and 44 hours taking selfies.
David Bruce, a student at The Hayfield School, took part in NCS in spring and agrees it provided a fun, exciting opportunity to meet new people and learn more about the local community.
David says: “When I heard about the programme from school I thought it’d be a great chance to grow my CV and keep myself busy – but in reality it was so much more than that.
“Not only did I feel more confident about my abilities and confident investing in school life. I met some amazing people and really did have the best summer of my life. I still carry that confidence with me due to taking part in the programme and would definitely encourage anyone that can to give it a go this summer.”
NCS is open to 15-17 year olds in England and Northern Ireland and takes place outside of term time in a two or three week full-time programme focused around fun and discovery, plus 30 hours committed to a community project that benefits both young people and society.
Teenagers on NCS build skills for work and life, while taking on new challenges and adventures, making new friends, and contributing to their community. The programme is recognised by UCAS and helps teens frame their skills and experiences for interviews and university applications. Government backing means that it costs £50 or less to take part, with bursaries available for those who need them.
Advice from teachers on how teenagers can best use the summer holidays:
1. Socialising in person rather than online (46%)
2. Having fun and discovering new experiences (45%)
3. Taking up challenging activities (38%)
4. Interacting with new people and making new friends (30%)
5. Learning new skills (28%)
6. Attending youth programmes offering fun and new challenges with new people their own age (27.5%)
7. Taking up or continue sports to help channel their energy through the summer (25%)
8. Volunteering in the local community (24.5%)
9. Holidays or excursions with family (24%)
10. Work experience/employment (24%)
The NCS summer programme is open now, for further information or to sign your teenager up, visit www.ncsyes.co.uk