Are You Convinced‪?‬ UK Youth

*Content warning: contains discussion of self-harm and suicide.*
Please call the Samaritans on 116 123 or contact jo@samaritans.org if you are in distress or need help with any of the issues discussed.
Is professional burnout inevitable? Ndidi doesn't think it is but Laura thinks it is inevitable for some people.
This weeks guests are Samuel Kasumu, a former Special Advisor to Prime Minister Boris Johnson where he held the Civil Society and Communities brief and career and burnout coach, Jo Howard.
The group discuss personal responsibility around workload, being overwhelmed versus being busy and whether burnout is an issue society can actually solve.
Like educational podcasts? You’re bound to learn something new on every episode of #AreYouConvinced.

Do schools deserve an extra £15billion? Laura thinks that other people deserve it more and for once, Ndidi pretty much agrees!
This weeks guests are Former head of the Education Endowment Foundation and former Covid Education Recovery Commissioner, Kevan Collins and senior adviser to Ark schools and a senior fellow at the Institute for Government, Sam Freedman. 
The group discuss what other services could benefit from the money, how schools could spend the money and the urgency of protecting children's futures.
Like educational podcasts? You’re bound to learn something new on every episode of #AreYouConvinced.
This episode was recorded in September 2021
 
 

Is univeristy worth it? Ndidi thinks it's an important key to unlocking a bright future but Laura isn't sure on the financial balance around it
This week's guests are Shakira Martin, Head of Student Experience at Rose Bruford College and David Gallagher, Chief Executive Officer at NCFE
The group discuss what a degree represents, whether univeristy is important for life skills and the value of university alternatives
Like educational podcasts? You’re bound to learn something new on every episode of #AreYouConvinced

Have GCSEs had their day? Laura thinks they can't be the be all and end all, Ndidi agrees but isn't sure there's a better alternative. This weeks guests are Daisy Christodoulou, Director of Education at No More Marking and Tom Sherrington, Education Consultant and author.  The group discuss whether more or less of the curriculum should be assessed, the purpose of GCSEs and what those alternatives could be.
Like educational podcasts? You’re bound to learn something new on every episode of #AreYouConvinced.

Should young people have the day off school to attend protests? Laura thinks so but Ndidi isn't sold on the logistics of it. This weeks guests are chief operating officer of the school student-led activist organisation Burst the Bubble UK, Eli Sassoon and founder & CMO of Thred Media, Jenk Oz. The group discuss how to encourage activism in the classsroom, whether one day makes a difference and how activist organisations could be more considerate towards young people.
Like educational podcasts? You’re bound to learn something new on every episode of #AreYouConvinced.

Laura and Ndidi share highlights and audience reactions to the season.  
 
A special thank you to everyone that has taken the time to engage, tweet, rate and review us. We’ve seen all your comments and we’re excited that you love the show as much as we love making it.