A recent survey conducted by the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) has shed light on a concerning issue affecting children’s education: the fear of violence. The survey, which gathered responses from more than 7,500 children, indicates that a significant number of young people are missing school due to safety concerns.
Key Findings of the Survey:
- About 20% of the children surveyed reported skipping school at least once in the last year due to feeling unsafe.
- The survey, which defined violence as “the use of force or threat of force against another person or people,” including sexual assault, found that 16% of children aged 13-17 have been victims of violence.
- The survey also suggests that 47% of those aged 13-17 have either been a victim or witness of violence in the past year.
Impact on Education:
- The Department for Education data shows that state-funded secondary schools had an overall absence rate of 8.5% in the 2022-23 spring term, but the fear of violence is causing a higher rate of absenteeism.
- The Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, emphasized that knife crime and violence are the “number one issue” raised by young people.
Role of Social Media:
- Ajada Bridges-Matthew, a member of the YEF Youth Advisory Board, expressed concerns about how social media helps violence “spread across the country.”
- Many children first encounter real violence on underage social media sites, which can normalize these experiences.
Response and Solutions:
- The YEF, a charitable trust formed in 2019 with a £200m Home Office endowment, aims to prevent youth violence.
- The government is providing targeted support to areas with high levels of violence, including Violence Reduction Units and funding for alternative education provisions.
- The National Police Chiefs’ Council is working on building better relationships with young people and evaluating the use of police in schools.
The findings of this survey underscore the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address youth violence and its impact on education. Ensuring the safety of children and providing them with a secure learning environment is crucial for their development and well-being.