1433 School's out report cov 31/8/05 8:42 am Page 1 School’s out?: School’s Truancy and exclusion and exclusion Truancy School’s New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) is a charity that advises all types of donors on how to give more effectively. Our aim is to increase the quantity and quality of resources available to the September 2005 charitable sector. Emilie Goodall We do this through a combination of published research and out? tailored advice. Our research identifies charities, large or small, that are tackling problems in communities, education and healthcare in the UK, and achieving excellent results. Our Truancy and exclusion advice for donors guides them on how to ensure their money has high impact. In all of this, we focus on the long-term A guide for donors and funders benefits for the people that the charities serve. New Philanthropy Capital New Philanthropy Capital 3 Downstream 1 London Bridge London SE1 9BG t: +44 (0)20 7785 6300 f: +44 (0)20 7785 6302 w: www.philanthropycapital.org e: [email protected] A company limited by guarantee Registered in England and Wales • Registered charity number 1091450 September 2005 Published by New Philanthropy Capital All rights reserved ISBN 0-9548836-4-0 Designed by Falconbury Ltd Printed by Quadracolor 1433 School's out report cov 31/8/05 8:42 am Page 2 Other publications Community School’s • Ordinary lives: Disabled children and their families (2005) • Grey matters: Growing older in deprived areas (2004) • Side by side: Young people in divided communities (2004) out • Local action changing lives: Community organisations tackling poverty and social exclusion (2004) Truancy and exclusion • Charity begins at home: Domestic violence (2003) A guide for donors and funders Education • Making sense of SEN: Special educational needs (2004) Health • Valuing short lives: Children with terminal conditions (2005) • Out of the shadows: HIV/AIDS in Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda (2005) • The hidden assassin: Cancer in the UK (2004) • Caring about dying: Palliative care and support for the terminally ill (2004) • Rhetoric to action: HIV/AIDS in South Africa (2003) Other research • Surer funding: Improving government funding of the voluntary sector (2004, published by acevo) • Full cost recovery: A guide and toolkit on cost allocation (2004, published by acevo) • Just the ticket: Understanding charity fundraising events (2003) • Funding our future II: A manual to understand and allocate costs (2002, published by acevo) Forthcoming publications • Prisoners and ex-prisoners (2005) • Education overview (2005) • Refugees and asylum seekers (2006) • Unaccompanied asylum seeking children (2006) • Mental health (2006) • Child abuse (2006) • Autism (2006) • Out of school hours (2006) • Advocacy and systemic change (2006) Our research produces evidence-based analysis and guidance on individual charities, sectors and themes, shedding light on where and how funds can be targeted. 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Executive summary The need The role of charities Charity recommendations Official statistics show that around one Charities provide many services, Funders interested in supporting pupil in every 1,000 is permanently tackling various issues that contribute work with young people at risk, or excluded from school every year in the to, and result from, truancy and those who truant or have been UK. On any given day, at least 70,000 exclusion. Charities are active both excluded, are encouraged to contact children play truant. The true figures are within and outside schools. They are NPC for the detailed reports compiled likely to be even higher. The causes of frequently well placed to access and on a wide range of exciting truancy and exclusion often derive from a support vulnerable children and young opportunities. Examples of combination of different influences. people at risk of truancy and exclusion. recommended charities are given here. Home, peer, school and personal factors Four main areas of charitable activity all affect children's engagement with their were identified by NPC’s analysis. Social education. Many pupils need support as support covers a range of activities early as possible to prevent problems which provide practical and emotional from spiralling. Research shows the support to children and their families. damaging effects of truancy and Advising parents how to negotiate the exclusion. Both are associated with lower complex education system can improve educational attainment, poorer job how schools respond to pupils and prospects, poorer health, crime and parents. Alternative provision is essential imprisonment. For example, persistent for excluded pupils and persistent truants are over six times as likely to truants, helping young people in obtain no qualifications on leaving school. breaking down barriers to education, Nearly three-quarters of young offenders and delivering alternative education. have been excluded or truanted regularly. Helping the state to respond better to These negative outcomes are damaging these problems could significantly for both the individuals involved and reduce rates of truancy and exclusion. society in general. Unchecked, the Generally speaking, problems of truancy and exclusion Recommendations for donors impose costs on society. It is sound most kids get by on a and funders investment advice to tackle, in order to lot of goodwill and prevent, the problems discussed above. NPC has identified a range of charities working in each of these ‘kindness given by a The role of government four areas. Funding these charities can particular Despite a plethora of initiatives and have a significant impact on the types of over £1bn spent on tackling poor problems and behaviour that can lead to professional, rather attendance and challenging truancy and exclusion; it can reduce than what you‘ might behaviour in schools, rates of rates of truancy and exclusion unauthorised absence have not themselves; and it can lessen the call a terribly well changed in ten years, and permanent negative outcomes associated with exclusions have risen by 20% since truanting or exclusion. Private funding is thought out and 2000. Evidence from progressive schools, needed across the range of charities, planned professional local education authorities (LEAs) and from small, local charities delivering charities shows that levels of truancy and innovative solutions directly to children response. exclusion can be reduced. However, and their families, to charities with the Education welfare significant change at a national level is aim, resources and ability to influence officer hampered by not only a number of government policy. practical difficulties, but also the increasing tension between being seen to be tough on problem behaviour and balancing the needs of all pupils. Contents 1 Executive summary 35 In-school programmes 36 Provision for pupils outside of 3 Contents mainstream education 4 Introduction 39 Helping the state 40 Summary: the options for private funding 5 The need 41 Outcomes 5 Defining truancy and exclusion 41 Introduction to outcome analysis 5 Defining truancy 41 Outcomes of interventions 6 Defining exclusion 42 Social support 7 ‘Missing’ pupils 45 Advising parents 7 Numbers involved 45 Alternative provision 7 Official figures 46 Helping the state 8 Unofficial figures 48 Summary table of outcomes 8 Pupils at risk 49 Summary: what can be achieved 9 Trends 9 Causes of truancy and exclusion 50 Conclusion and recommendations 10 Home factors 50 Conclusion 11 Peer factors 51 Recommendations 12 School factors 54 Acknowledgements 14 Personal factors 15 Effects of truancy and exclusion 56 References 18 Summary: the need for action 19 The role of government 19 Responsibility and commitment 20 The tension in schools 22 Understanding and action 22 Cross-cutting initiatives 25 Disaffection 25 Truancy 27 Exclusions 29 Summary: a role for private funding? 31 The role of charities 31 Charitable activities in this field 31 Social support 32 Emotional health 33 Support networks within schools 34 Community-based support 34 Work with specific at-risk groups 35 Advising parents 35 Alternative provision 3 Introduction The purpose of this report Methodology