Embracing Growth as a Pupil Support Worker: The Power of Listening and Community Support

Hi, my name is Al and I work part-time with The Shed Project as a Pupil Support Worker. My role began back in September 2024, but it still feels very new!  

The job has grown out of the Shed’s remit to support a particular cohort of young people who are either care experienced or on the edge of care. This is part of the Promise, which has been invested in by the Scottish Government. The Promise has the hugely ambitious goal of transforming the way that care-experienced people are supported throughout their lives. 

My work so far has been mainly based in the Nicolson Institute. Weekly, I am in and out of the school meeting with young people for an hour or so, often taking them to a local cafe or going for a walk with them. I love walks and cafes, so the job suits me down to the ground. However, the young people normally prefer the latter to the former activity.  

Being back in the high school is a strange experience because I used to work there as an English and Media Studies teacher. Many of the adults in the school still call me Miss Johnston, whereas the young people call me Alison (or Al, which is even better).  

Previously, I used to teach classes of 20-30 pupils – whether they liked it or not. Now, I meet with just one or two students at a time. I see it as a privilege to spend time in a young person’s company. It is too easy to write them off as a group, all thinking and acting the same negative way. Individually, they are interesting, funny, insightful and tackling the world in their own unique way. It is not always the best way, but part of my role is to listen, to encourage and to challenge them. 

To be honest, I am learning on the job. One thing that really helps is speaking to other people working in the school: Fiona Cunningham and Allanah Macphail do a fantastic job teaching in R19; the Guidance staff somehow have time to share despite being forever on the move; the team at ELR work with tireless care and compassion; PC Steele is a warm and welcome addition; and Emma Macleod is building connections between the school and community. Our own team of Matthew, Shaina, Sophie and Tom bring a vibrant range of skills and experience. Then of course, there are the teachers and learning assistants doing the day-to-day work of delivering education in a busy, pressurised environment. 

Often when I bump into people and mention I have started working in the school again, they shake their heads or sigh with sympathy. In fact, when I walk in the corridors, I notice positive interactions all the time between adults and young people. Little things make a difference: I hear teachers saying hello, asking pupils about their lives. They are interested and invested in these young people. 

And investing in young people is what my role is all about. Sometimes it pays dividends straight away but, more often than not, the investment is a long-term prospect. That means I need patience, wisdom and discernment to do the job well. Sometimes, I need a word in season for a pupil. Sometimes I just need to be quiet, sip my coffee and listen. Sometimes I need a word in season for myself! 

As we come to the end of the school year, our team is going to need to take stock. Thankfully, we have great support around us to enable planning for the next stage. It’s going to be an exciting process as we develop and grow as a team in response to the needs of our community. Watch this space. I see good things up ahead.  

About the Promise Scotland: https://thepromise.scot/what-is-the-promise/