So you’re involved in visiting a school, perhaps as the church youth worker or the staff member for a local schools project, and you’re trying to work out what you should be doing. Perhaps the school has already suggested some things you could do, like help with a mentoring programme, or maybe you’re wondering what you should ask if you can do. This guide sets out how a schools worker can develop a clear strategy for their work with the right aims and objectives.

At least 1 in 10 young people will self harm before the age of 16. That makes it a huge issue and yet one that is often misunderstood by parents, teachers and those working with young people. This guide outlines some of the key reasons why young people self harm, how to support a young person who is harming and where to go to find more information and advice.

A good manager…

“... is releasing but supportive.”

“... understands my gifts.”

“... listens to me, knows me well enough to be aware of how I’m feeling.”

“... supports me and does the things they say.”

“... leads but doesn’t control.” Various schools workers,

So you’ve been invited to take an assembly, and now you’re wondering what on earth you’re going to do. Don’t panic! Whether you’re about to take a primary or secondary assembly, or perhaps stand in front of a group of sixth formers, this guide will take through the stages of planning the content, presenting on the day, and some vital do’s and don’t’s. The challenge is not only for your assembly to run smoothly, but for your presentation to have a real and lasting impact on the students.

You find yourself standing in front of a class of 30 Year 10’s. They’re ready and waiting for you to start the lesson. What are you going to do? What will engage them, get them talking and thinking, and ultimately learning? How can you communicate your Christian beliefs and faith?

Most teenagers get angry. It’s a natural emotion, something that we all experience. But, for some young people, their anger gets out of control and they find themselves in difficulties, especially at school. As a result, anger management groups have become more and more common in education as a way of helping students take control of their emotions and avoid getting into trouble. This guide is about how to set up and run an anger management group with students in a school.

Most schools are required to teach Religious Education to students. For many this will normally involve a weekly RE lesson but some schools increasingly put on RE Days. These involve students stepping out of the normal timetable and spending a whole day on a particular RE theme. This guide will explain how RE Days are organised, how schoolsworkers can organise or contribute to them and where to find helpful resources.

It may not be quite as bad as your first day at a new school as a student, but faced with the challenge of making contact with schools as a youth worker is still pretty intimidating. This guide is about how to start out in a school from scratch, including how to make contact, deciding what you’re going to do and, of course, how to make a real and lasting impact.

Although Christian schools work is often assumed to only include taking assemblies and lessons or running Christian groups, pastoral support for students is also a very common activity by schools workers. Support might range from informal conversations with students during break times to scheduled counselling sessions or therapeutic groups. This guide explores the kind of pastoral support options available, the skills needed to work effectively, and the qualifications and accreditation available.