A new report from IPPR and The Difference reveals suspensions and exclusions across the education sector in England are predicted to have risen over 20% over the past year.
The report found that disadvantaged students who were eligible for free school meals are nearly five times more likely to be permanently excluded and four times more likely to be suspended than their peers.
The poorest areas of England have experienced the highest rates of lost learning through unauthorised absences and suspensions. Middlesbrough experienced a suspension rate of three times (28.18%) the national average (9.33%).
Elise Temple, Director of Education at Nacro said: “At Nacro we see young people come to us at 16 after a disrupted education career with numerous suspensions and exclusions, the impact on their learning and self-confidence can be devastating and the knock-on effect into adult life has wide-ranging and long-lasting consequences. However, we also see how young people can pull themselves back from this with the right support. Every day in our education centres we see the potential and ability young people show when they are offered a different kind of learning. It is vital that we ensure these young people are given the chance to start again, either in mainstream or alternative education. They deserve the help to achieve a better future.”
Campaigning to remove barriers to education for disadvantaged young people
Our Learn Without Limits campaign called for:
- Pupil Premium Plus (an extension of the extra funding given to disadvantaged pupils (Pupil Premium)) to 16–19-year-olds.
- A guaranteed range of high-quality, employer endorsed vocational or technical qualifications at Level 2 and below.
A Digital Inclusion Guarantee to close the digital divide, incorporating the guarantee of data and devices for all young people; digitally enabling staff at education providers, and ensuring all providers digital infrastructure can cater for online learning.