The rise in the number of school exclusions should be a key area of concern for us all. Between 2015/16 and 2016/17, the number of permanent exclusions across all state-funded primary, secondary, and special schools increased by around 15 per cent to 7,720—this average means there are around 40 permanent exclusions per day.
I am Ashmal, I have never been excluded from Lyng Hall School
Hi, I am Ashmal, I am 14 years old, attending Lyng Hall Academy in Coventry. My headteacher tells me that the school is a truly comprehensive academy. Teachers have also said that my friends and I are a delight to teach! I know that I am very grateful to all of them.
I joined the school in Year 7. During my first year in the school, teachers supported me, but I struggled with my attitude and behaviour. By the end of the year I had 389 negative codes (behaviour technique that begins with a positive). I was really bad but my teachers decided to keep me in the school with an action plan, which has worked!
What happened during the next four years has been amazing. My teachers, headteacher and my family have saved me from fixed-term or permanent exclusion. I was difficult, hard to understand. I wanted to do well but was angry and didn’t know what to do. For the first time in any of my schooling, my teachers listened to me.
An Associate Teacher, who was my key worker, got to know my family. They understood what had happened in my life. I went on an anger management programme, which made me think about kindness and positivity.
A big part of my life has been the Mentors in Violence Prevention Programme, (based on the Glasgow project where older students mentor younger students to stop them from being a bystander) I now really enjoy being a mentor, helping younger pupils just as I was helped.