Southwark approves report on exclusions in schools

Southwark’s education and business scrutiny commission’s investigation into the “rising trend of exclusions” in the borough, presented to cabinet on Tuesday (July 14), found that exclusions were being made “at a far too casual rate” and that two academies – Ark and Harris – were responsible for the majority of them.  

Nationally, the number of permanent exclusions increased by nearly 71 per cent between 2012 and 2018 to 7,900.   

Fixed-term exclusions increased from 267,520 in 2012/13 to 410,800 in 2017/18, a rise of nearly 54 per cent.  

The majority of exclusions – 80 per cent – happen in secondary schools.  

A section of the report

Presenting the report, chair of the commission, Councillor Peter Babudu, said the exclusion crisis “has profound effects on the life chances of young people”.

Children with some form of special educational need have made up 39 to 45 per cent of exclusions and 98 per cent of Southwark’s pupil referral unit attendance, although nationally less than 15 per cent of children have any type of SEN, roughly triple the proportionate rate

The commission found that in Southwark the “worrying trend” of rising rates of exclusions “is disproportionately impacting Black, Asian, and ethnic minority children, those with SEN and schools with high levels of free school meals (FSM) eligibility”.  

The figures suggested that 82 per cent of excluded children are Black, Asian, and ethnic minority ethnic, double the representative population of under 20s in Southwark.  

“Children with some form of special educational need have made up 39 to 45 per cent of exclusions and 98 per cent of Southwark’s pupil referral unit attendance, although nationally less than 15 per cent of children have any type of SEN, roughly triple the proportionate rate,” according to the report. 

The commission found that two academy chains were responsible for the majority of exclusions in the borough, Ark and Harris, which “appear to be excluding children at well above the average rate”.  

According to the report, Harris Academy Peckham’s rate of exclusion was “of particular concern”, as they were the highest in absolute numbers in 2016, which increased by 150 per cent in 2017/18.  

And though the commission “received positive engagement” from Ark, “highlighting various areas of recent progress and explaining its figures in greater context”, the commission received “no engagement from the Harris chain of schools”.  

Harris has not yet responded to the Local Democracy Service on the figures either.  

The main reasons for exclusions in the borough are cited as “persistent disruptive behaviour and unspecified ‘other’, which includes carrying an offensive weapon”. 

One pupil received a fixed-term exclusion for her friends’ behaviour “even though she was not in the class at the time”, while another did for “opening a door too hard”

The commission heard personal stories of excluded children and said they “painted a picture of exclusions being carried out in far too casual a manner”, while “having profoundly damaging impacts on children who are often already vulnerable”. 

“Combined with the picture provided by national and council data, there is a plausible case that a greater willingness to exclude in certain schools has been a key driver of increasing rates of exclusion,” it said.  

The commission highlighted some specific reasons children were being excluded, which included a fixed-term exclusion for eating a biscuit in class “because [the pupil] had skipped lunch to catch up on work”. 

One pupil received a fixed-term exclusion for her friends’ behaviour “even though she was not in the class at the time”, while another did for “opening a door too hard”.  

One boy was permanently excluded on what he believes were “ultimately attainment grounds, having missed an exam due to illness”.  

Whilst the commission is encouraged by recent progress the council is making in detecting possible cases of off-rolling, overall, the commission did not feel satisfied that the council is at present identifying and challenging suspected instances of off-rolling robustly

The report also highlighted the issue of off-rolling, where pupils are “deleted” from schools, rather than officially excluded. 

It often happens when schools are unable or unwilling to support what they perceive as difficult pupils.  

In 2018/19 there were about 558 deletions from school rolls in Southwark’s secondary schools.  

The report showed that while 56 per cent of those children were then registered at other schools, “suggesting managed moves”, more than 10 per cent could not be located after the deletion – though officers said some of this could be down to moving away.  

“Council data suggests that the schools with the highest levels of permanent exclusions are also the schools with the highest levels of deletions from the roll, but identifying whether individual deletions are improper is difficult.  

“Whilst the commission is encouraged by recent progress the council is making in detecting possible cases of off-rolling, overall, the commission did not feel satisfied that the council is at present identifying and challenging suspected instances of off-rolling robustly,” according to the report.  

The commission found that the number of children being home educated is “rising rapidly”, and “it is often the children with greatest levels of need” being taught at home.  

It also said that although Southwark’s main alternative provision is good, student outcomes have been worsening in recent years.  

Though schools are legally required to provide local authorities with fixed-term and permanent exclusions data, the commission heard how the council receives “mixed quality data”, which is “often late and with major errors”, including “significantly undercounting fixed-term exclusions”. 

The commission said that, despite the issues raised, “many schools are going to great lengths to be inclusive and working well with Southwark”.  

It heard from schools that are using measures to reduce and avoid exclusions, including using alternative curricula and having regular contact with parents of students of concern and agreed plans of action.  

But the commission heard from several headteachers who said that when they identified children at risk of exclusion due to behavioural issues or conduct disorders, “it was often difficult to get support from the council”.  

“one of the most upsetting and powerful reports we have seen”

The commission put forward recommendations following the review, which were approved by the cabinet on Tuesday.

They included championing a 100 per cent inclusion commitment with schools, an “action-focused” review into the disproportionate representation of BAME and SEN children in exclusion statistics, and bringing in clearer procedures to identify off-rolling.  

It recommended that the council conduct a “comprehensive” review of children currently being home educated “to identify possible cases of forced home schooling”, and where this is identified, to help reintegrate children into mainstream education.  

The commission suggested a rethinking the “delivery and aims for alternative provision”, and becoming clear on which schools are under or late-reporting mandatory data. 

Councillor Kieron Williams, member for housing management and modernisation, described the report as “one of the most upsetting and powerful” the cabinet has seen.

Cllr Jasmine Ali, cabinet member for children, schools, and adult care, thanked the commission for highlighting the problems with getting data.  

“That’s a hard lesson for us to learn, the schools and the council,” she said, adding that it was “something we can start getting right straight away”.  

Cllr Ali said: “We will rise to your challenge. You’ve asked for a bold approach to this – when we come back in eight weeks let’s see if we can add a few bold suggestions of our own on the back of the work you’ve been doing.”