In November 2011 CSN, a community interest company, was appointed by Alcohol Research UK to undertake an initial, independent process evaluation and feasibility study of the implementation of In:tuition.

In:tuition is a life skills education programme for young people aged 9-14, developed for Drinkaware.  The programme consists of 10 primary lessons and 11 secondary lessons. Subjects include: self awareness; attitudes and behaviour; advertising, branding and the media; personal choices; emotions, communication skills and assertive behaviour; the influence of peers; goal setting and confidence.

In:tuition is digitally based and  home learning tasks are included to encourage discussion with parents/carers and promote consistent messages to young people at home and school.

The evaluation of the pilot looked at the implementation of the programme in the classroom, how it was used, the extent to which it was implemented as intended, its acceptability to staff and students; its relevance and appropriateness, barriers to implementation and any requirements for additional support or training.

Schools provided initial information regarding their plans for piloting the programme. Feedback was collected from staff and pupils through online questionnaires, school visits, teacher interviews and pupil focus group discussions.

The programme had some promising feedback from primary schools who recommend it should be rebranded as a lifeskills programme.

Secondary schools found the lessons too long and onerous, digital acess a problem and the majority of secondary schools recruited therefore failed to deliver the programme finding it unsuitable to their needs.