Why Connection Matters: Secondary Schools Linking

Our Schools Linking for Secondary Schools Programme continues to flourish with delivery taking place across the Schools Linking Network. With 2 Pathways for schools to choose from, students are able to build on their skills and emerging relationships with their link school. 

We are continually refreshing our resources to ensure they respond to the challenges young people are facing in their lives and the approaches we know to be effective. In the last few years we have ensured that our Secondary Schools Linking Programme invites young people to reflect on the impact of social media and all of our very human instincts which can mean that there are fewer and fewer opportunities to engage meaningfully with people different to ourselves.

Feedback from teachers and young people alike demonstrates that being able to take time to focus on the importance of practising the skills needed to connect well with others is something that benefits all of us, including the adults in the room! During the programme, students are able to reflect on the importance of creating connections with others and the risks of  just sticking in our bubbles with people who are like us. Both our programmes include time for students to practice their new skills by taking scenarios from everyday life and finding their own language and approach so they have the opportunity to feel comfortable in being a connector or an upstander. 

We know that not everyone finds meeting new people easy and by focussing on the skills we need and the space to try out these techniques in a safe environment, we hope that we are equipping young people with the confidence to go back to school and model for themselves and their peers the importance of learning what it takes for us all to live well together.

If you are interested in learning more about our work with Secondary Schools please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us, email us on info@thelinkingnetwork.org.uk