When young people struggle to communicate, their behaviour is often misunderstood. What looks like anger or defiance can also be frustration, anxiety or overwhelm. Georgie’s story shows how school disengagement can often begin when a young person feels misunderstood. When students at school feel they do not belong in education, it becomes harder for them to stay engaged.
His journey helps to remind us that disengagement rarely reflects a lack of intelligence or curiosity. More often than not it reflects a young person who has never felt understood.
Meet Georgie
Georgie first visited the farm when he was 12. At the time, he remembers being almost completely mute around people he wasn’t familiar with. Because of this, his behaviour was often misunderstood by his teachers and classmates.
“I was near enough mute…I used to get into fights. Not out of anger, but because I couldn’t communicate how I felt.”
Georgie later received diagnoses of autism and ADHD. Previously, neither he nor the adults around him understood why school felt so challenging – this helped to give them the clarity they needed.
Despite struggling in school, Georgie loved to learn. He enjoyed reading and exploring ideas, but classrooms rarely supported the way he learned best.
When young people’s needs go unrecognised in school
Across the UK, it is becoming increasingly common for young people to experience a feeling of disengagement in school because their needs are not being recognised. Often when young people find it difficult to communicate, behaviour can become the only language available.
“It was like a kettle constantly heating up. Eventually it was going to boil”
For many young people, these experiences lead to isolation – even in large schools surrounded by hundreds of students, they can feel invisible. Feeling misunderstood in education can slowly take away a young person’s sense of belonging.
“1,500 kids in total. You would think, ah, there’s plenty of people to talk to, but it’s very lonely. Especially like, teenage years, everyone trying to figure themselves out.”
Rebuilding confidence and connection
Georgie describes his visit to Jamie’s Farm as a different kind of experience. People took time to talk with him and listen to what he had to say. Conversations felt more natural and less pressured than in school. Gradually, George started speaking more and over time, his confidence grew.
“I think the farm gave me the confidence to be the person I want to be”
Shared work and time outdoors created opportunities for Georgie to talk and connect with his peers. These shared daily tasks helped him to feel more comfortable in expressing himself.
Listen to Georgie’s full story
In this episode of ‘Shift Happens’, Georgie reflects on growing up feeling misunderstood at school and losing his sense of belonging in education. Today he shares his creativity and passion for making things with others. After his time on Jamie’s Farm, Georgie went on to work as a wood technician for a number of years, as well as taking some time to go travelling to new places and explore new opportunities.
Georgie’s story serves as a reminder to us all, that supporting young people begins with listening. When young people feel seen, respected and understood, confidence and belonging have a space to grow.
Listen to the full episode here.
