The number of children excluded from secondary schools in London
is increasing.
There were 980 permanent exclusions in 2016/17, compared to 780
in 2013/14.
The London Assembly Education
Panel has today released
the report ‘Preventing Secondary School
Exclusions’ which investigates school exclusions in the
capital and why they are going up.
Key findings of the report include:
- The
rise in exclusions is partly due to difficulties schools have in
dealing with pupils with increasingly complex needs
-
Certain demographics of pupils are disproportionally excluded
suggesting schools are either failing to support some learners or
discipline techniques inadvertently discriminate against some
pupils.[1]
- There
is growing concern about ‘off-rolling’ – underachieving pupils
being excluded to relieve financial pressure or boost school
performance rates
Recommendations to the Mayor include:
-
Provide help to prevent unnecessary exclusions
-
Review the supply of centres that specialises in supporting those
at risk of exclusion
-
Actively monitor and challenge hidden exclusions
Chair of the Education
Panel, OBE AM, said:
“All children need a wide range of support systems to bring
the best out of them in their academic and extracurricular
studies. Reduced support either because of funding or lack of
awareness should not be the reason why ultimately pupils end up
excluded.
“It’s important that young people get the best start in life.
Outside of the home the next place that can happen is in the
classroom, so we must make sure they are actually there.
“Young people who have challenging behaviours must not be
brushed to the side via hidden exclusions or bare minimum
support. Instead, they need even more support than the average
pupil.
“We have a duty to these students because letting them down
has wide-ranging consequences we need to consider
seriously.”
