Tonight I’m speaking at Westminster Abbey, where I’m helping to launch a major research report into the ambitions and values of 4,000 young people in Hodge Hill.
‘The Values and Character Dispositions of 14-16 Year Olds’ is a major report, backed by two years of research.
Carried out by the University of Birmingham’s School of Education, and written by Professor James Arthur, the report explores the ambitions and values of students in Hodge Hill School, Hodge Hill School for Girls, International School and Community College, Park View School, Saltley School of Community College and Washwood Heath Technology College.
In all 4,000 young people and parents took part in the study.
It explodes the myth that our young people have no hopes for the future.
It proves our young people have big ambitions, believe in honesty and hard work and don’t get the backing they need to succeed.
When I ask our young people what they want to do, they say they want to be teachers, doctors, scientists and lawyers. But too often they lack the support to make their dreams come true.
We must recognise the burning ambition of our young people.
Our schools are on the up – but there’s a huge shortage of youth centres, clubs, and chances to serve the community.
We have to invest more outside the classroom and crucially, I want to see community service for youngsters.
Everything I see tells me that community services gives youngsters the confidence and self-esteem to go for it in life.”
But as we build plans to regenerate East Birmingham, we should start with the attitudes and ambitions of our youngsters.
I’m glad to say that I helped persuade the Templeton Foundation to research the report, and I’m going to present a copy to the Prime Minister next time I see him. I’ll raise its conclusions with Schools Secretary Ed Balls too.
I think we need a Longbridge-style regeneration task force for East Birmingham, and this report’s findings should be at its heart.
KEY FINDINGS
- According to the report – ‘The Values and Character Dispositions of 14-16 Year Olds’ by a University of Birmingham academic – most 14-16 year old students in the six schools of the Hodge Hill constituency in Birmingham are ambitious; care about values and character; and are concerned about their communities.
- A large majority of the students, especially black and Asian, expressed high academic aspirations, according to the report.
- Many of the students expressed an interest in character development and identified school as a place that could do more to develop character.
- The study also reveals that these students have a positive self-image in contrast with the negative, self-centred image often presented by the media.
- Most of the students said they do not engage in their local community, but a majority said they would vote if they could.
The full report is here and a shorter summary is here.
Liam is the MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill, and Labour's Shadow Chief Secretary. 
