Movin’ On Up
A celebratory project which inspires young people to see their education as a path to future job opportunities and motivates them towards
creating a happy fulfilling life
commitment from the cast, and well-devised pieces, you captured their attentions.
It was so excellent that they couldn’t NOT have learnt anything… Keep doing what you do!”
Karen Sookden, English Teacher, Warren Comprehensive
London Borough of Barking & Dagenham
What do I want to achieve in my life?
What possibilities are out there for me?
How can I achieve the things I want?
Movin’ On Up is an inspirational project that guarantees to keep its audiences both laughing and learning whilst offering them a positive outlook on their future.The 35 minute show allows 11-14 year-olds to recognise the breadth of opportunity in their own lives, articulate their personal aspirations and develop plans and skills to achieve their dreams. The show is especially suitable for year 8 and 9 students, prior to taking their GCSE options.
Funded by Connexions, the project stresses the importance of personal and social development, ‘goal setting’ and making a positive contribution. Movin’ On Up links directly with the Citizenship Curriculum and Extended Schools policy, signposting careers services (such as Connexions) and encouraging young people access further Careers Education and Guidance (CEG).
Movin’ On Up promotes the ideas of further education and broadening horizons, whilst addressing key issues that will affect young people’s futures including their attitudes, behaviour, attendance, motivation, timekeeping, management of personal finance and communication skills. Fuelled by low self-esteem, ill-education, and a perceived lack of prospects, these factors can underpin decisions relating to a range of other current youth issues including teenage pregnancy, substance misuse and anti- social behaviour.
Movin’ On Up encourages young people to ask themselves questions by inspiring them to think about their strengths and their future plans and helping them realise that they have something positive to contribute to society. It provides realistic expectations of the world of work and further education, and raises self-esteem and confidence in young people by opening up new horizons and providing practical steps to help them achieve their aspirations.
Young people were shown real life scenarios in making plans for when they leave school.
Using contemporary TV shows as the model meant that the young people could focus on the message and stay absolutely hooked by the comedy and music.”
Amanda Howells, Connexions Strategic Manager
THE NEED
In recent years, the number of young people in Britain who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) has risen by almost 2% year-on-year and this figure is set to rise far further in the face of the current recession.
In August 2009, 11.9% of 16-18 year olds in Britain were NEET, totaling more than 959,000 young people who were not at school, in paid employment or training for a career.
In the current economic climate, with unemployment amongst school leavers rising dramatically, and competition for jobs and training becoming even more fierce, it is more important than ever to encourage young people to equip themselves with the skills, motivation and qualifications to help them succeed in life.
Movin’ On Up empowers young people to think about their future in a positive light, to make them aware of and excited by the many options available to them when they leave school, and to encourage them to take responsibility for their own actions.
THE SHOW
Movin’ On Up is a celebration of the future, combining entertaining educational sketches based on popular TV shows including X Factor, Little Britain, and Doctor Who, with music from chart toppers Amy Winehouse, Akon and Rihanna, to inspire young people to create a brighter tomorrow for themselves and the world in which they live.
The central plot follows the stories of three London teenagers who have very different attitudes to their futures… Darren wants to be a lawyer, but needs help planning how to acheive his dream. Alisha is less sure of what she wants from life but she’s open to having new experiences and working hard. Lauren (based on the popular Catherine Tate character) is “not bovvered“ about her future. But Simon Cowell, presenting a new postive-future based show, The EET Factor, is on hand to help. This time the goal is education, employment and training, and the prize is the future. You’ve got to be EET not NEET!
We visit Little Britain veterans Lou and Andy, as Lou tries to persuade the blasé Andy to take his options seriously, and the obstinate bank manager who refuses our hapless school dropout a credit card (computer says no!). We even go time travelling with a careless Dr Who and a perpetually late Cyberman, to promote the importance of a professional work ethic.
The show has been designed specifically for its target audience and makes learning for the future seem both the sensible and the ‘cool’ option for any young person.
Hanging outside Primark…is not appealing as it may seem!”
Emma Howell, Science Teacher, The John Roan School,
London Borough of Greenwich
MOVIN’ ON UP TEACHES YOUNG PEOPLE…
- to see the breadth of possibility in their lives and articulate their personal aspirations
- to think about what they want to achieve in the future
- how to plan for and achieve some of the things they want in the future
- the importance of thinking carefully when choosing their GCSE options in relation to their future plans
- to never choose a subject just because they think it will be easy
- to engage with CEG services (Careers Education and Guidance) including Connexions, online services (e.g. Fast Tomato, The Real Game) and other resources
- that it’s never too early to start planning for a successful future
Pupil, age 12, Hextable School, Kent
AT A GLANCE…
| Show length: | 35 mins |
| Included extras: | Teachers’ resource pack |
| Optional extras: | 1 hour workshop |
| For ages: | 11 – 14 |
| School year groups: | 7 – 9 |
| Level: | Secondary |
| Curriculum links and current themes: |
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Relevant and applicable to their age group and curriculum.”
Sarah Heath, PSHEE/RE Co-ordinator, Plashet School, London Borough of Newham
See the “What’s On” box (left) to find out if this project is touring soon.
To receive a past evaluation report or to find out more get in touch.
