Reasons For Exclusion From School

This study examined the reasons behind exclusion from school, emphasizing the exclusion of students with special needs, ethnic minority children, and children looked after by local authorities. Data collection included interviews with local education authority (LEA) officers; interviews with teachers and administrators; and documents from the schools and LEAs. Overall, teachers appreciated recent Department for Education and Employment guidance but wanted more training and support in handling and minimizing exclusions. Teachers believed high levels of exclusion related to high levels of student mobility in some areas and to difficulties in accessing resources when excluded students were received from elsewhere. The quality of recordkeeping varied considerably between LEAs, influencing their ability to help schools address the needs of ethnic minority students. Interagency project to minimize exclusion were in their early stages. The needs of certain groups were overlooked in policies designed to minimize exclusion. Some principals increasingly used unofficial exclusions. Many principals reported using both fixed period and permanent exclusion in order to access support for special education. Secondary schools with low exclusion rates generally had alternative flexible curriculum arrangements for vulnerable students. Permanent exclusion was considered a failure on the part of inclusive schools. (SM)

As societies become more diverse, so too must they become more inclusive. In inclusive societies, all members, regardless of their ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status, ability or disability are valued and free to participate, and there is equity of access and reward. Schools have a powerful role to play in creating inclusive societies, and this begins with the notion of inclusive schools - schools were all children belong, where all children have a place, and where difference is a natural part of what it is to be a human being. Based on this understanding, many countries around the world are moving towards more inclusive education systems. However, working against inclusive education are forces of exclusion – factors that act to exclude and marginalize minority students from participation and learning at school. Therefore, in order to progress the principles and practices of inclusive education, an examination of the construct of exclusion is critical. Important questions to be interrogated if inclusive education is to be a reality are: What is exclusion? Why does it occur? How can it be reduced and eliminated? This book critically examines the construct of exclusion, exploring how disabled students experience exclusion both from and within school and suggesting reasons why this occurs. Finally, key foci for change are proposed as platforms for interrogating, reducing and eliminating the forces of exclusion.

This report synthesizes two approaches to a topical problem: the concern with social deviancy and crime which focuses on failure; and research on educational development which focuses on success. The book explores how environmental experiences (including parenting and bullying) play a role.

Educators remove over 3.45 million students from school annually for disciplinary reasons, despite strong evidence that school suspension policies are harmful to students. The research presented in this volume demonstrates that disciplinary policies and practices that schools control directly exacerbate today's profound inequities in educational opportunity and outcomes. Part I explores how suspensions flow along the lines of race, gender, and disability status. Part II examines potential remedies that show great promise, including a district-wide approach in Cleveland, Ohio, aimed at social and emotional learning strategies. Closing the School Discipline Gap is a call for action that focuses on an area in which public schools can and should make powerful improvements, in a relatively short period of time. Contributors include Robert Balfanz, Jamilia Blake, Dewey Cornell, Jeremy D. Finn, Thalia González, Anne Gregory, Daniel J. Losen, David M. Osher, Russell J. Skiba, Ivory A. Toldson “Closing the School Discipline Gap can make an enormous difference in reducing disciplinary exclusions across the country. This book not only exposes unsound practices and their disparate impact on the historically disadvantaged, but provides educators, policymakers, and community advocates with an array of remedies that are proven effective or hold great promise. Educators, communities, and students alike can benefit from the promising interventions and well-grounded recommendations.” —Linda Darling-Hammond, Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education, Stanford University “For over four decades school discipline policies and practices in too many places have pushed children out of school, especially children of color. Closing the School Discipline Gap shows that adults have the power—and responsibility—to change school climates to better meet the needs of children. This volume is a call to action for policymakers, educators, parents, and students.” —Marian Wright Edelman, president, Children’s Defense Fund

`... an excellent volume, one which should become essential reading for students of education, especially those at the start of their careers. Incidentally, not only is the book concise; unusually for a jointly-authored book it is also hard to see the joins; it really does read well′ - Scottish Affairs `An interesting comparison of pairs of schools which differed in the extent to which they excluded, the authors found several differences: the schools′ views on what education is all about; the way the curriculum is structured; relations with parents; and decision-making about exclusion′ - Times Educational Supplement Exclusion from school is a major concern for teachers, parents and children, and features in government initiatives. This book takes a broad look at exclusion, mapping the extent of exclusions and showing what factors can lead to children being excluded, whether permanently or informally, from school. The authors focus on various kinds of in-school alternatives to exclusion. They show how schools and teachers can make a difference to young people′s emotional and social development, as well as to their cognitive-intellectual development. For many children with difficulties in their families or communities, school can be a safe and supportive refuge. School is also much more than just the subjects on the timetable, and the authors look in detail at the hidden curriculum, or school ethos, as a means of preventing exclusion. The book goes beyond in-school alternatives to consider the effectiveness of out-of-school provision, and raises questions about how to conceptualize effectiveness. The authors consider perspectives on exclusion from other countries including the United States, and place exclusion from school in the broader context of social exclusion.

Education, Exclusion and Citizenship provides a hard-hitting account of the realities of exclusion, examining the behaviour which typically results in exclusion, and asks questions about a society which communally neglects those most in need. Permanent exclusions from schools continue to rise. As schools compete with neighbouring schools for 'good' pupils, managers and heads are choosing to exclude disruptive pupils who might affect school image. The book looks at the experience of excluded children, the law regulating exclusion, the obligations of the LEAs, and focuses on prevention and early intervention strategies.

Rising exclusion rates indicate the continuing marginalisation of many young people in education in the UK. Working-class boys, children living in poverty, and children with additional/special educational needs are among those experiencing a disproportionate rate of exclusion. This book traces the processes of exclusion and alienation from school and relates this to a changing social and economic context. Jean Kane argues that policy on schooling, including curricular reform, needs to be re-connected to the broad political pursuit of social justice, and presents compelling case studies of excluded pupils, showing the multi-faceted identities of pupils, with a particular focus on masculine and feminine identities. This invaluable contribution to the literature offers an alternative analysis where the social identities of pupils are shown to be tied up with their exclusion from school. Themes investigated include: the meanings of school exclusions social class, gender and schooling social identities of excluded pupils negotiating identities in school: moving towards exclusion exclusions and young people’s lives improving participation in schooling. Providing fascinating reading for teachers, social workers, researchers and policy-makers this book considers how educational disadvantage might be addressed through recognition of the gender and class identities of pupils.

`... an excellent volume, one which should become essential reading for students of education, especially those at the start of their careers. Incidentally, not only is the book concise; unusually for a jointly-authored book it is also hard to see the joins; it really does read well′ - Scottish Affairs `An interesting comparison of pairs of schools which differed in the extent to which they excluded, the authors found several differences: the schools′ views on what education is all about; the way the curriculum is structured; relations with parents; and decision-making about exclusion′ - Times Educational Supplement Exclusion from school is a major concern for teachers, parents and children, and features in government initiatives. This book takes a broad look at exclusion, mapping the extent of exclusions and showing what factors can lead to children being excluded, whether permanently or informally, from school. The authors focus on various kinds of in-school alternatives to exclusion. They show how schools and teachers can make a difference to young people′s emotional and social development, as well as to their cognitive-intellectual development. For many children with difficulties in their families or communities, school can be a safe and supportive refuge. School is also much more than just the subjects on the timetable, and the authors look in detail at the hidden curriculum, or school ethos, as a means of preventing exclusion. The book goes beyond in-school alternatives to consider the effectiveness of out-of-school provision, and raises questions about how to conceptualize effectiveness. The authors consider perspectives on exclusion from other countries including the United States, and place exclusion from school in the broader context of social exclusion.

Permanent exclusion is the most severe sanction a school can impose on a child and the number of permanently excluded children is rising. Based on systematic observation of exclusion appeal panel hearings.Challenges to School Exclusion offers a unique insight into the appeal process. It focuses on: *mechanisms by which parents and children can challenge permanent exclusion *the law and current practice *the social context of exclusion *reforms of the appeal system made by the School Standards and Framework Act *the DfEEs latest guidance on pupil inclusion. Challenges to School Exclusion is the first study to examine permanent exclusion. The findings reveal serious deficiencies in the appeal system, including a frequent failure to deal fairly with excluded children. The text will be of particular interest to head teachers, local education authorities, school governors, education lawyers and education charities.