This united call to action, spearheaded by Mission 44 and Sir Lewis Hamilton, forms part of a joint statement released today, urging policymakers to prioritise equity and inclusion across all aspects of education.

The call comes amid growing concern about the record-high and rising rates of suspensions and exclusions in England’s schools, and when teachers and school staff are working hard in increasingly challenging environments. The statement urges Government action on four key measures that must be implemented to address persistent inequalities and ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive:

• 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 joint statement comes a day after Mission 44 published new research highlighting alarming gaps in school inclusion. The findings include that nearly 1 in 5 (17%) young people say school or college is a place where they don’t feel safe or welcome and 2 in 5 (41%) of young people say their school or college has not listened to or shown concern for their worries or wellbeing – with figures rising for students with Special Educational Needs (SEN), those with disabilities and for students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Mission 44 Founder, Sir Lewis Hamilton said:

“I remember the challenges I faced at school. I didn’t feel like my voice was heard, or that anyone wanted to look into the reasons why I was struggling so much. If they had, then perhaps my experience at school would have been very different. Instead, I was made to feel like I didn’t belong and that I didn’t matter.

“Today young people across the country, especially the most vulnerable students, are saying they feel the same way, and they need something to change. We need to listen and do all we can to ensure their experiences lead to the feeling of inclusion.

“That’s why I’m proud to stand alongside Mission 44 and over 25 organisations calling for the government to take further urgent action to build a more inclusive education system.”

Mission 44 CEO, Jason Arthur said:

“Every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and seen in their school. The growing levels of lost learning and the experiences of too many young people – particularly those from underserved communities – make it clear that our education system is not working for everyone.

“That’s why Mission 44, alongside Sir Lewis Hamilton and over 25 organisations in the sector, is calling for urgent, concrete action to build a truly inclusive education system. We need bold leadership from policymakers to embed inclusion at every level, and we need it now.”