London schools see fewer exclusions with £1.4m Charter investment

London's schools have reported a significant decrease in pupil absenteeism, suspensions, and permanent exclusions, a trend credited to the city's Inclusion Charter. The initiative, launched in 2024 and adopted by 30 boroughs and numerous charities, has led to the capital's exclusion rates falling to half the national average. New data indicates a 14 per cent drop in permanent exclusions for the last academic year, alongside a 7 per cent decrease in suspensions and a 2 per cent fall in absenteeism.

Charter principles and impact

The Inclusion Charter outlines four core principles designed to foster student belonging: embedding diversity in the curriculum, empowering students to influence school policy, providing varied educational pathways, and promoting exposure to new experiences and perspectives. Research commissioned by the Mayor's Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) found that pupils in 'rights-respecting schools' report feeling safer and more connected. More than 730 schools, approximately a quarter of those in London, have signed up to the Charter.

Sir Sadiq Khan highlighted the success of the Charter, stating, "This is a good example of a policy that's been incredibly successful." He added that the initiative has resulted in fewer exclusions and suspensions compared to the rest of the country, and has made progress in tackling persistent absenteeism. "That's leading to schools being safer, better connected, better included, but also it's leading to fewer young people getting sucked into criminal gangs," Sir Sadiq Khan told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

City Hall's investment of £1.4 million in UNICEF UK’s Right’s Respecting Schools Award aims to help schools put the Charter into practice. This funding is available to state schools in London for the next two years. Lib Peck, Director of the VRU, stated that keeping young people in school is a key part of the unit's strategy to reduce violence. She noted that while reductions in exclusions, suspensions, and absenteeism have been seen, further work is needed to ensure no child is left behind or becomes vulnerable to violence. The VRU, established in 2019, has conducted over half a million targeted interventions for young people. Official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show a 15 per cent decrease in knife crime across London in the past 12 months.

Specific borough improvements

Several boroughs have seen notable improvements. Sutton has experienced a 63 per cent reduction in permanent exclusions since 2023, while Wandsworth saw a one-third decrease in such instances. The Department for Education has previously issued guidance acknowledging the role of exclusions as behaviour management tools but also encouraging environments where they are not necessary.

What happens next

City Hall plans to share the findings and results of the Inclusion Charter with government ministers. The VRU aims to increase the number of schools signed up to the Charter to ensure more young people are supported to thrive in a safe educational environment.