The Education Committee has today launched an inquiry into
Alternative Provision (AP). Alternative provision, provided in
settings such as Pupil Referral Units, educates young people who
do not attend mainstream school for a variety of reasons, such as
school exclusion, behaviour issues, school refusal, or short- or
long-term illness.
Rt Hon , Chair of the Education
Select Committee, said: “Some of the most
disadvantaged young people in our society are educated through
alternative provision and we want to establish whether they are
receiving the best possible support.
“Students in alternative provision are far less likely to
achieve good exam results, find well-paid jobs or go on to
further study. Only around 1% of young people in state
alternative provision receive five good GCSEs. As a Committee
dedicated to promoting social justice, we are committed to
examining these issues in our inquiry and pressing Government,
local authorities, schools and others to do all they can to
improve educational outcomes and life chances. Every student,
whatever their background, should be given the chance to climb
the educational ladder of opportunity.”
In addition to looking at the quality of their education and the
outcomes of these students, the Committee will also look at
safeguarding and resources within AP, provision of AP within
schools and regulation of independent providers [full inquiry
terms of reference included below].
Background
Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) constitute one form of AP. Department
for Education statistics indicate that there are 353 schools in
England and that are 15,000 students in PRUs, an increase of 16%
since 2011/12.
Permanent and fixed-term exclusions have risen in recent years,
mainly affecting secondary and special schools. There were around
35.2 permanent exclusions per day in 2015/16, up from an average
of 30.5 per day in 2014/15.
DfE statistics also show that:
- · Pupils
known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals (FSM)
were around four times more likely to receive a permanent or
fixed period exclusion than those who are not eligible.
- · Pupils
with identified special educational needs (SEN) accounted for
almost half of all permanent exclusions and fixed period
exclusions
- · Boys
were over three times more likely to receive a permanent
exclusion and almost three times more likely to receive a fixed
period exclusion than girls.
Terms of Reference
The Education Committee invites written
submissions by 1 November on the following issues:
- Routes into alternative provision.
- The quality of teaching in alternative provision (including
pupil referral units);
- Educational outcomes and destinations of students;
- Safety, accommodation, and provision of resources for
students;
- In-school alternatives to external alternative
provision;
- Regulation of independent providers.
ENDS
Editor’s Notes
1. The Government defines Alternative Provision as “education
arranged by local authorities for pupils who, because of
exclusion, illness or other reasons, would not otherwise receive
suitable education”. AP extends to the education of pupils on
fixed period exclusions (internal exclusion), in addition to
“pupils being directed by schools to off-site provision to
improve their behaviour”.
2. Sources: Education and Training Statistics for the United
Kingdom 2016: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/567215/SR54_2016_Text.pdf Permanent
and Fixed Period Exclusions in England: 2015 to 2016 [SFR
35/2017, 20 July 2017]
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/645075/SFR35_2017_text.pdf
Committee Membership
Rt Hon (Con, Harlow), MP (Con, Telford), MP (Con, Chippenham),
(SNP, Motherwell and
Wishaw), MP (Lab, Bury North), MP (Lab, Kingston upon Hull
West and Hessle), (Con, Copeland),
MP (Lab, Gateshead), MP (Lab Co-op, Manchester
Central), (Lab, Colne
Valley), MP (Con, Hazel Grove)
