Saheera’s Story

Abstract

Saheera, who lived with her parents, her brother and four sisters in Gadley, was one of the first young people to join the research project when she began taking part in the study in late 2010. She was introduced to us, along with her friend Shabina, whilst in Year 11 of an all-girls high school, after both were identified by the school as ‘vulnerable to becoming NEET’. Saheera was 15 when we first met her, and from the outset it appeared that she, Shabina and other members of their peer group had overtly negative attitudes to school. The girls were often absent or late for classes: sometimes they were off-site during the school day, whilst on other occasions they could be found smoking in and around the school grounds during lesson times. Much of their behaviour was openly anti-authoritarian.