Chance UK suggests exclusions don't solve any problems

Over 90 per cent of children excluded at primary school don't pass GCSE English and Maths, new research from Chance UK has found.

By Year 10, 64 per cent of excluded children are persistently absent.

Chance UK also found that almost 70 per cent of children excluded or suspended in primary school received at least one suspension in secondary school.

They said in the report that exclusions "simply do not work" and that they instead "just pass the problem on to parents, communities and other schools."  

They continued: "Instead, let’s recognise that some kids are struggling more than others and give them the support they need early."

Paul Whiteman general secretary at school leaders' union NAHT responded to the research and said: “Schools work hard to help children secure support when they face challenges in their lives which can impact their behaviour, wellbeing, and academic attainment - but they cannot resolve these complex issues alone.

He said suspensions and exclusions are used as "a last resort" to ensure the safety of all pupils and staff.

Whiteman continued: “The most significant issue schools face is that government underfunding of vital services like social care, children’s mental health and support for children with special educational needs and disabilities mean that when they seek help for children and families it is now incredibly difficult to access or, in many cases, simply unavailable.

"We need to see far more government investment in essential support services so that children get early help before problems spiral and become harder to solve."

Chance UK is a London-based charity delivering services across the UK such as one-to-one mentoring, group sessions and specialist family support.