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Determined to Succeed and Young People at Risk of Becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training): February - October 2005: Part of the National Evaluation of Determined to Succeed - Phase 1

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APPENDIX 1 LIST OF INTERVIEW TOPICS

This appendix lists the topics covered across the interviews conducted as part of this study, including:

  • LA Director of Education
  • LA staff with responsibility for overseeing and developing strategies relevant to the "at risk" group
  • Provider staff
  • Young people (project participants).

LA DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

Background

  • Interviewee name/local authority
  • Roles and responsibilities
  • Strategic objectives and key priorities with regard to education in the LA
  • Extent to which disaffection/ NEET is seen an issue in the LA.

Aims and objectives of the DtS strategy

  • Perceived aims of the DtS strategy
  • Extent to which DtS strategy reflects local authorities' objectives
  • Relevance to other education/training/careers education and guidance initiatives in Scotland.

Focus on NEET - role of DtS

  • Development of DtS implementation plan
  • Importance of DtS to address issue of NEET in local authority
  • Strategies developed as part of DtS aimed at target group
  • Other strategies adopted by local authority aimed at target group
  • Other agencies involved in providing support to target group
  • Responsibility for monitoring issues of disaffection, exclusion and non-participation in local authority.

Impact of DtS

  • Perceived impact of DtS on local authorities
  • Perceived impact on schools
  • Perceived impact on reducing the number of disaffected/disengaged pupils.

LOCAL AUTHORITY STAFF

Background

  • Interviewee name/ local authority
  • Roles and responsibilities in relation to managing, organising and monitoring activities aimed at young people at risk of becoming NEET
  • Extent to which disaffection/ NEET is an issue in the local authority
  • Strategies adopted by local authority aimed at target group
  • Agencies involved in providing support to target group.

Views on DtS strategy

  • Awareness of aims and objectives of DtS strategy
  • Extent to which DtS is targeted at "at risk" group
  • Importance of DtS to address issue of NEET in local authority
  • Impact of DtS on provision of services aimed at "at risk" group
  • Examples of innovatory practices initiated as a result of DtS by schools or providers
  • Involvement in monitoring and evaluating impact of DtS on "at risk" group.

Lessons learned

  • Lessons learnt from coordinating services to young people at risk of becoming NEET
  • Good practice recommendations to other authorities in relation to:
  • Identifying the target group
  • Providing relevant activities
  • Monitoring progress
  • Achieving successful outcomes
  • Sustaining positive outcomes.

PROVIDER STAFF

Background

  • Interviewee name and organisation
  • Local authority
  • Role and responsibilities
  • Experience of working with the client group
  • Awareness of aims and objective of DtS strategy.

Project details

  • Outline of the project including main focus/aim/objectives, delivery model/style, and activities provided
  • Characteristics of young people, including needs, age, gender, etc.
  • How young people are recruited onto the project.

Joining the project

  • Induction procedures and processes
  • Assessment of young people's learning, development and support needs
  • Extent to which young people are consulted about what they want to do whilst they are on the project.

Views on provision

  • Project activities liked most/least
  • How young people are made to feel ownership of project/activities
  • Responsiveness to young people's views.

Monitoring, evaluation and review

  • Approach adopted to monitor young people's participation and progress on the project
  • Approach adopted to evaluate progress and outcomes
  • Project reviews.

Outcomes

  • Expected outcomes
  • Main factors which enable successful outcomes to be achieved
  • Barriers to achieving successful outcomes.

Links with other organisations

  • Extent and use of links with schools, Careers Scotland, Youth Service, Social Services, local authorities, employers
  • Other links wanted.

Local authority support

  • Views on range and adequacy of support received from local authority in helping to run project
  • Further advice and support required.

Challenges and lessons learned

  • Main challenges in working with disengaged/disaffected young people
  • Main challenges in setting up and running projects aimed at "at risk" group
  • Good practice recommendations for other providers with regard to:
  • Identifying the target group
  • Providing relevant activities
  • Monitoring progress
  • Achieving successful outcomes
  • Sustaining positive outcomes.

YOUNG PEOPLE (PROJECT PARTICIPANTS)

Background

  • Name and age of young person:
  • Name of provider young person attending
  • Local authority area
  • Details of activities/learning programme involved in
  • Extent to which they were given a choice whether they wanted to participate or not.

Views on activities/learning programme

  • Project activities liked most/least
  • Suggested improvements.

Impact and future steps

  • Impact of participating in activities/learning programme on personal development, own attitudes/behaviour, development of interests/skills, future progression
  • Working towards or achievement of any certificates or qualifications
  • What would you be doing if you were not coming here?
  • Future plans when leaving project/leaving school and extent to which project/activity has impacted on these.

Final questions

  • Views on school in general and in comparison with project activities/learning programme
  • Would you recommend this activity/learning programme to other young people?

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Page updated: Tuesday, May 30, 2006