As organisations, leaders, educators, parents, and advocates working across the education and youth sectors, we are deeply concerned by the growing crisis facing our schools – and the young people at the heart of them. New research from Mission 44 – the foundation launched by Sir Lewis Hamilton to support young people to thrive in education and beyond – reveals a stark disconnect between students’ needs and their everyday experience of school.
The polling comes amid growing concern about the record-high and rising rates of suspensions and exclusions in England’s schools, and in an increasingly challenging climate for students, parents and teachers. These new findings expose an educational system where too many pupils feel they don’t belong in school, with more vulnerable students most likely to be left behind.
The findings are stark:
- Nearly 1 in 5 (17%) young people report feeling unsafe or unwelcome at school or college. This is particularly true for more vulnerable students; including those with Special Educational Needs (SEN) (28%), disabled students (30%) and students from lower socio-economic backgrounds (21%) – who are more likely to feel this way than those from more affluent backgrounds (15%).
- 1 in 5 (22%) young people say their experience at school or college has negatively affected their mental health and wellbeing, rising to 26% among girls and an alarming 36% among SEN pupils and 38% of disabled students.
- 2 in 5 (41%) feel that when they raise concerns about their wellbeing, they are ignored by their institutions – rising to 63% for those with SEN and 45% for those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
- 1 in 3 (30%) are uncomfortable speaking to school or college staff about how happy or not they feel.
- More than a third (34%) of parents believe their child’s learning needs are not being met, with over a quarter (28%) noting their child has felt excluded from school activities.
These numbers reflect a system in which too many children – particularly those who have special educational needs, are disabled or come from lower-income families – are feeling ignored, unsupported, or pushed to the margins.
The concerns of young people are echoed by their parents. Over a third (34%) believe their child’s learning needs/preferences are not being met, and over a quarter (28%) say their child has felt excluded from school activities or learning. Overwhelmingly, nearly all (94%) parents say an inclusive environment in their child’s school or college is important, and more than three quarters (76%) support schools being required to take student experience into account when making decisions. Two-thirds (67%) would support the creation of a national student experience survey, with higher levels of support among ethnic minority parents (79%). Support is also notably strong for the development of a national standard on inclusive learning, which is backed by 72% of parents.
Through its Nothing Happens in Isolation campaign, Mission 44 has highlighted research, insights, and lived experience to show how unmet needs, poor mental health support, discrimination, and poverty can drive school absence, suspension, and exclusion. It’s clear that these challenges don’t exist in isolation – and they can’t be solved in isolation either.
Whilst we recognise that the government has made efforts over the last year to improve inclusion within the education system, it is clear that we need to go further and faster. That’s why we’re united in calling for urgent, coordinated action to build an inclusive education system where every child feels safe, heard, and able to thrive.
We support Mission 44’s recommendations and are calling for government and sector-wide action to implement the following four measures:
- A National Framework for Inclusion: To provide schools with clear guidance and support on how to foster inclusive, supportive environments for every child.
- An Annual National Student Experience Survey: To ensure students’ voices are consistently heard and used to shape school and policy decisions.
- Targeted Funding for an Inclusive Workforce: To build a more inclusive profession that reflects the diversity of the communities it serves and equips all teachers with the skills to support every learner.
- Mentorship Programmes for Students at Risk of Exclusion: To provide the personal support needed to help vulnerable young people stay in school and succeed.
The rationale for these policy recommendations, and the others Mission 44 recommend as part of their campaign, can be read in full here.
Together, we believe these changes can create a stronger, fairer, and more compassionate education system. One that listens to young people. One that works for every child. We stand ready to work in partnership with national and local governments, educators, families and students to make this vision a reality.
Signed,
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- Lewis Hamilton, Founder, Mission 44
- Jason Arthur, CEO, Mission 44
- Kat Agar, CEO, Oasis UK – Youth and Community
- John Barnaby, CEO, Oasis Community Learning
- Nadine Bernard, Founder/CEO, Aspiring Heads
- Laura Bunt, CEO, Young Minds
- Gina Cicerone, CEO, Fair Education Alliance
- Ellie Costello, Executive Director, Square Peg
- Patrick Cozier, Headteacher, Highgate Wood School
- Jane Fletcher, CEO, Aldridge Education
- Kiran Gill, CEO and Founder, The Difference
- Steve Haines, Director of Public Affairs, Impetus
- Russell Hobby, CEO, Teach First
- Dr. Carol Homden CBE, CEO, Coram
- Hussein Hussein, CEO, CAPE
- Ruth Ibegbuna, Founder and CEO, Rekindle
- Ben Lindsay, CEO and Founder, Power The Fight
- Baroness Anne Longfield, Executive Chair and Founder, Centre for Young Lives
- Lindsey MacDonald, Chief Executive, Magic Breakfast
- Jack O’Neill, Director of Policy, Advocacy & Influencing, The Children’s Society
- Alison Peacock, CEO, Chartered College of Teaching
- Grace Preston, Senior Policy & Advocacy Officer, The Traveller Movement
- Jack Reynolds, Co-Founder and Chief Executive, Football Beyond Borders
- Gerry Robinson, Executive Headteacher, Haringey Learning Partnership
- Liz Robinson, CEO, Big Education
- Catherine Roche, CEO, Place2Be
- Lavinya Stennett, CEO & Founder, The Black Curriculum
- Chris Tomlinson, CEO, Co-op Academies Trust
- Jonny Uttley, CEO, The Education Alliance
- Ed Vainker, Managing Director, Reach Foundation
- Dave Whitaker, Chief Education Officer, Wellspring Academy Trust