The Timpson Review of School Exclusion

On 7 May 2019, the long awaited Timpson Review of School Exclusion was published and the Government Responds. It made 30 recommendations with a view to improving the consistency and appropriate use of exclusion and to ensure that the school system provides the best conditions for every child to thrive and progress.

This government inquiry into school exclusions in England was commissioned to look into how head teachers use exclusion in practice and why some groups of pupils are more likely to be excluded. It has taken over a year to complete and obtained nearly 1,000 responses to its call for evidence.

The inquiry showed that outcomes for excluded children are worse; they achieve fewer good passes in English and maths GCSEs and a third of pupils who are put in alternative provision after being excluded at Key Stage 4, don't progress to further education, employment or training.

The inquiry found that certain groups are more likely to be excluded including:

• Pupils with poor mental health
• Pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN)
• Pupils from Black Caribbean and Mixed White and Black Caribbean backgrounds

When children have several of these characteristics, their risk of exclusion is increased even further.

The inquiry also highlighted concerning evidence about off-rolling and the inappropriate use of isolation booths as a form of behavioural management.

In off-rolling, children are made to leave school without being formally excluded, for example, where schools put pressure on families to home educate their child. These children will not have access to the safeguards of the normal exclusions process including the trigger to provide education after 6 days. This is unlawful.

In isolation booths, children will spend time on their own, or in small groups, away from their normal classes. If poorly used, these booths can take a child away from their education.

The inquiry made 30 recommendations including:

• Better statutory guidance on when exclusion can be used and better guidance on related areas such as behaviour management
• Making schools responsible for the children they excluded and their educational outcomes
• More training and support for school staff to encourage positive behaviour cultures in school
• Consultation on how to ensure children with multiple exclusions have access to education
• Accessible information for parents and carers of children who have been, or are at risk of exclusion
• Increasing the transparency of why children move out of schools and where they go