1st Edition

Understanding the Causes and Consequences of School Exclusions Teachers, Parents and Schools' Perspectives

By Feyisa Demie Copyright 2023
    172 Pages 4 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    172 Pages 4 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    This book outlines a study of the causes and consequences of school exclusions. It explores the experiences of schools, teachers, parents, and governors and includes a focus on the experience of Black and minority ethnic students and those with special educational needs and disabilities.

    The book presents the results of detailed empirical research from English schools that studied teachers, school leaders, parents, governors, educational psychologists, and school staff experience with school exclusions. The book examines the scale of the problem and underlying factors, the disproportionality of exclusions for SEND and minority ethnic students, comparative international literature on exclusions and implications for policy, practice, and research.

    Providing a comprehensive overview of the factors affecting school exclusions, the book will be of great interest to researchers, academics, and students in the areas of education policy, inclusion and special education needs in education. It will also be of interest to policy makers and education professionals including special educational needs co-ordinators and headteachers.

    About the author

    List of tables and figures

    Acknowledgements

    Glossary

    A note on terminology

    Part 1: Introduction: School exclusions context and policy concerns

    1. Introduction: The scale of exclusions problems and challenges
    2. Why the interest in school exclusions?

      The aims of the book and a note on research

      The structure of the book

    3. Factors associated with rise in school exclusions

              Introduction

              Reasons for exclusions

              Factors associated with rise in school exclusions

              Conclusions

    Part 2: The experience of teachers and school staff with school exclusions

         3. Teachers, school leaders and parents’ experience with school exclusions

              Introduction

              Teachers, parents, and school staff experience with school exclusions

              Special Educational Need Coordinators experience with school exclusions

              Governors experience with school exclusions

               Conclusions

        4. The views and experience of Parents with school exclusions

            Introduction

            Parent experience with school exclusions

            Conclusions

     

    Part 3: Ethnic and special educational needs disproportionality in school exclusions

            5. Ethnic disproportionality in school exclusions

      Introduction

      Exclusions by ethnic background in schools

      Reasons for ethnic minority overrepresentations in exclusions

      Conclusions

      6. Special educational needs disproportionality in exclusions

               Introduction

               Exclusions by pupil characteristics in schools

               Reasons for special educational needs overrepresentations in exclusions

               Conclusions

              7. International experience in school exclusions

               Introduction

               Experience in Ethnic disproportionality

               Experience in SEN disproportionality

                Summary and conclusions

    Part 4: What are the lessons for those concerned with school exclusions?

           8. Summary, conclusions, and implications

             Lessons for tackling school exclusions

             Conclusions

             Implications and recommendations

    Biography

    Feyisa Demie is Honorary Professor of Durham University School of Education and also head of research and adviser for school self-evaluation at Lambeth LA. Prior to this, he was a university lecturer and is Fellow of the Academy of Social Science (FAcSS) and the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA). He has worked extensively for over 28 years with local authorities, government departments, and schools on the use of research and data to drive school improvement. He runs school-focused training programmes and conducts conferences on the use of what work research and assessment data to support school self-evaluation for headteachers, teachers, governors, and policymakers.

    "This new and comprehensive book by Professor Feyisa Demie takes the current policy concerns in the UK over school exclusions and sets them in an empirical and international context. It presents stories from the people involved in decisions to exclude students from school. It presents facts and figures about the disproportionate exclusion of students from some ethnic groups, and those facing learning challenges. And it looks at the consequences of such exclusions for individuals and the school system. It is a valuable addition to the literature."

    - Stephen Gorard, Professor, Durham University, UK

     

    "Discrimination against ethnic minority students is nothing new; it has been with us since the days of Coard and Rampton. Demie has shed a much needed light on the causes of the disproportionate exclusion of ethnic minority students as well as providing insightful solutions to this longstanding problem. The book will be of value to a broad readership - researchers, academics, teacher trainers, school staff and policy makers."

    - Karamat Iqbal, Equality and Education Practitioner, Forward Partnership, UK

    "Understanding the causes and consequences of school exclusions is an essential read for all stakeholders in education. This book outlines the nature and extent of the problem of school exclusions in England, in particular for students with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities and for students of Black and minority ethnic heritage... The book also highlights key implications and opportunities for research, practice, and policy, for example,  cultural competency among teachers and school leaders, and working with families and with communities. Professor Feyisa Demie should be congratulated for pulling together this much needed and timely book which will undoubtedly benefit those working in education in England (and beyond)."

    - Paul Miller, Director & Principal Consultant, Institute for Educational & Social Equity, UK

    This book offers a timely and considered resource to support all those involved in education in understanding the causes and consequences of suspensions and exclusions, with a particular focus on the experiences of minority ethnic students and those with SEND. Written by Behaviour and Exclusion Expert, Feyisa Demie, the book demonstrates how we can make a positive difference in preventing exclusions and suspensions in our schools. Filled with current and practical perspectives from a range of stakeholders, Demie encourages school leaders to consider more deeply the scale of the problems and factors underlying school exclusions. He identifies key factors for school leaders that have proved successful in tackling school exclusions and suspensions.

    - Kulvarn Atwal, Head Teacher at Highlands Primary School and Uphall Primary School, UK