It’s been two months since we launched our first campaign, ‘Nothing Happens In Isolation’, to drive systemic change and inspire individual action to prevent school exclusions and create a more inclusive education system.

Thanks to the collective efforts of our partners, supporters, and community voices, we’ve made real progress in raising awareness about the disproportionate impact (and use) of exclusions on disadvantaged students. Through our campaign website, events, research, social media and direct engagement with policymakers, we’ve highlighted the urgent need for reform. Through the generosity of young people and parents sharing their personal stories of exclusion, we’ve explained why a shift toward a preventative approach is essential to address the root causes – including unmet special educational needs, mental health challenges, discrimination, and socioeconomic barriers to engaging in education.

The data remains stark: it is the most vulnerable learners including students from some ethnic backgrounds such as Black Caribbean and Gypsy, Roma, Traveller, those with special educational needs, and young people in contact with social services who are most likely to face exclusion. Our campaign has called for systemic change whilst showcasing innovative solutions developed by our Preventing Exclusions Fund partners.

One of the highlights of the campaign has been the release of our research report which examines the perspectives of teachers, parents, and students on school exclusions. As well as confirming that early intervention is something nearly all teachers agree on – with 97% who knew an excluded child well saying they could see some signs a pupil was on a path to exclusion – this report has also added fresh, human insight that was previously largely missing from the exclusions debate. We are pleased to address that gap, with young people, parent and teacher experiences and opinions now informing the dialogue and providing valuable input for policymakers to consider.

We continue to push for system change through direct engagement with policymakers, supported by our founder, who has also written to the Education Select Committee and the Secretary of State to advocate for policy reform and a more inclusive education system.

Alongside our campaign efforts, Mission 44 has played an active role in the Who Is Losing Learning? Coalition – a group of charities dedicated to identifying and addressing the impact of wider lost learning on disadvantaged young people. Following last September’s problem report, we look forward to publishing the Coalition’s solutions report in March 2025, which will outline actionable strategies to drive change.

We understand that solving the issues around exclusion are complex and require sustained commitment from a range of agencies working together. Real change won’t happen overnight, but momentum is building – and we are determined to keep it going.

Announcing our campaign events

That’s why we’re excited to announce a series of events that will bring the conversation on exclusions and lost learning directly to communities.

These regional events will bring together teachers, policymakers, community organisations, funders, young people, and youth activists to explore what practical local action can be taken to reduce exclusions and share best practice. Our first event kicks off in London on 18 March, followed by stops in Manchester, Newcastle, Leeds, Bristol, Birmingham, Portsmouth, and Kent over the following 10-12 months.

How you can get involved

Whether you are a young person, parent, teacher, policymaker, funder or community leader, your voice matters. We are now reaching out to invite people to take part in these events working in partnership with the Centre for Young Lives, led by former Children’s Commissioner Baroness Anne Longfield. To register your interest, visit the Get Involved page at preventingexclusions.com.

Alongside this activity we will continue to highlight the impact of lost learning, advocate for bold policy reforms and offer our support to work closely with the government to build a fairer education system that ensures no child is left behind.

Leicia Feare
Associate Director of Communications & Campaigns
Mission 44