Agenda item

The Committee were circulated the report prior to the meeting and as part of the update were informed that

·       Significant progress had been made against the 14 recommendations, and that the focus has shifted.

·       New guidance had been issued in September 2022 around behaviour

·       It was felt that a corner had been turned since November 2022.

The Chair of the Committee thanked officers for what was described as tremendous improvement, citing the decrease in exclusions from 111 to 17, and that Islington-maintained schools were doing a tremendous job with inclusive practices.

In response to questions from the Committee about whether New River College were in receipt of extra resources to manage extended support to schools, members were informed that they were funded and particularly for outreach work.

Members were told that unfortunately the same groups were overrepresented in absence and low attainment, particularly Black Caribbean boys, and increasingly Black Somalian cohorts also. The increase in girls being excluded was also highlighted as a concern

Members were told that the Mother Tongue & Supplementary Schools Partnership is one of the routes in which they address the risk of isolation to other cultures to students who have been withdrawn from mainstream schools and placed in faith schools

In response to questions from members of the Committee whether there was any follow up on the young people who were permanently excluded, members were informed that there currently small numbers and that alternative arrangements were made individually for their further education. A dedicated officer oversees this and checks in with their future pathways.

In response to questions from the Committee concerning the increase in exclusions among Black Somali children, and what the reasons were, members were told that it was difficult to ascertain, but that generally the reason behind most exclusions was persistent disruption. The London Borough of Camden did some work on the disproportionality of Somali children being excluded. The critical point was noted that parents were caught off guard by how quick the escalation took place, with the action not being communicated with them fairly. This had led to increase guidance and training being put in place to improve communication and involve families at critical junctures where they felt hadn’t been before.

In response to questions about whether New River College was conducting outreach at all schools, members were informed that it is working with all schools except one academy. New River College was also recognised nationally as good level of alternate provision.

Members were told that less time was spent talking to Governors about excluding and more time was spent talking about how to include. Nonetheless, guidance stipulated also that zero-exclusion is not a safe route to take either.

In response to questions from members of the Committee about getting more data to tackle the rise in exclusions among the Black Somali cohort and bringing a tangible example of how to work with these groups, it was agreed that a response would be provided on the scrutiny tracker to present to Committee at a future meeting.

The Vice Chair of the Committee expressed gratitude to the Director of Children’s Services for his hard work since joining Islington Council.