Age Group

11-13 year olds

Year Group

Year 7 & 8

Duration

45 minutes

Group Size

5 - 300

Resource Pack?

Not Available

Follow Up Workshop

Available

Digital Version?

No

Overview of Future Matters

Future Matters is an engaging performance for Year 7 and early Year 8 students, linking their educational journey and school life to future career aspirations.

 

Synopsis

Chris and Sophie survived the transition from primary to secondary school, but they’re now facing new challenges. Caught in the wrong crowd, feeling bored, and losing sight of the importance of education, they find themselves in detention. This reflective moment pushes them to rediscover the value of school and their future. Through an entertaining and relatable story, Future Matters highlights the critical message: your future matters, and what you do today impacts your tomorrow.

Key Themes

PEER INFLUENCE
FRIENDSHIP DYNAMICS
FUTURE ASPIRATIONS & GOALS
SOCIAL PRESSURE
IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION

 

- Raise aspirations, motivation and attainment.

- Support enrichment and outreach activities.

- Increase awareness of the importance of education.

- Illustrate barriers to success: home life, social life, peer groups.

Future Matters addresses the challenges faced by Year 7 students both in and outside the classroom:

Friendship and Peer Influence:

Understanding the impact of friends and peer groups on schoolwork, behaviour, and motivation.

Time Management:

Learning to balance academic responsibilities with life outside the classroom.

Literacy and Numeracy:

Recognising the importance of core skills like literacy and numeracy for future career success.

Raising Aspirations:

Encouraging students to set high goals and overcome barriers to learning, such as social pressure or difficulties at home.

Self Identity & Self-Acceptance:
Characters confront and challenge stereotypes about themselves, leading to personal growth and acceptance.

Emotional Well-Being:
The struggles with feelings of inadequacy, bullying, and the importance of mental health are explored. Characters learn to express their emotions and seek help when needed.
Friendship and Peer Relationships:
The dynamics of friendship are highlighted, showcasing the importance of support systems and healthy relationships among peers.

Responsibility and Accountability:
Characters reflect on their actions and the consequences, emphasising the importance of taking responsibility for your own behaviour

Resilience and Coping Strategies:
Characters learn to navigate struggles and setbacks, illustrating the importance of resilience and developing coping mechanisms.

Future Aspirations and Goals:
The exploration of dreams and career aspirations encourages students to think about their futures and set goals for themselves.

As students progress from primary to secondary school, many face several challenges that can affect their academic performance and well-being. Research shows that the transition can have significant impacts, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Some key factors include:

Friendship and Peer Groups:

These play a critical role in how students engage with their schoolwork, shaping attitudes and behaviours.

Managing Academic Expectations:

For many students in Years 6, 7, and 8, the increased academic demands can be overwhelming, making this adjustment period particularly difficult.

Anxiety and Social Pressures:

After the social disruptions caused by the pandemic, many Year 7 students experience heightened anxiety, fearing academic setbacks.

Belonging and Engagement:

There’s a marked decline in students' sense of belonging between Years 7 and 8, which can result in decreased attendance and engagement.

Future Matters taps into these critical issues, providing students with the tools to reflect on their own experiences, embrace resilience, and build positive relationships.

Our post-show workshop provides students with the opportunity to explore their aspirations, overcome obstacles, and develop actionable plans for their futures. Through interactive activities and group discussions, students will reflect on the challenges faced by characters Chris and Sophie while discovering the importance of making independent decisions.

I have rarely seen our students so fully engaged.

We were very impressed by the Future Matters performance and follow up activities. I have rarely seen our students so fully engaged.

David Inglis
Head of Year 7

The workshop after the performance was fabulous

2engage have recently supported us to successfully engage with a group of hard to reach young people struggling with school attendance. The workshop after the performance was fabulous and really helped them to pick apart the performance content and reflect on their own thoughts and feelings. The young people thoroughly enjoyed the event and fed back that they got a lot out of it.