Since launching our ‘Nothing Happens in Isolation’ campaign just over seven months ago, we’ve been overwhelmed by the energy and commitment of our community – from young people sharing their lived experiences of exclusion, to educators and parents calling for more inclusive practice in schools.

Over the last few months, that collective voice has not only grown louder, but is now being heard by those in power.

Earlier this month, Mission 44 attended a landmark roundtable at 10 Downing Street hosted by the Prime Minister, alongside our founder Sir Lewis Hamilton. Young people with lived experience of school exclusion took their place at the famous Cabinet Room table and shared their powerful testimonies directly with government ministers.

They spoke of the importance of inclusion and the systemic change needed to make sure every child can thrive in the classroom. It was a moment of truth-telling – and a reminder that young people are not just affected by policy decisions, but should be shaping them.

This roundtable followed the release of our joint statement, signed by more than 30 youth and education organisations supporting our call for policy change. In it, we set out key recommendations to reform the system. We are delighted that the government has now committed to three of those recommendations which will provide a framework for schools to increase pupil engagement, collect more data on student experience – and support for schools to act on that data, and a commitment to recruit and retain more teachers from ethnic minority backgrounds.

It’s been encouraging to see these calls gain traction among policymakers, but this is just the beginning.

Exclusions, suspensions and absence continue to disproportionately affect the most vulnerable children – particularly Black Caribbean and Gypsy Roma Traveller pupils, those with SEND, children in care, and those growing up in poverty. These are not isolated incidents. They are symptoms of wider inequities in our education system, which we must continue to confront head-on.

That’s why we’re continuing our direct engagement with government and parliamentarians, including sharing our campaign research and amplifying the voices of those with lived experience. We will also be working closely with the Department for Education on the delivery of these three commitments – and making sure the sector and young people contribute to their design and delivery.

We know that meaningful change takes time. Over the coming months, we’ll continue to bring communities together at our regional ‘Ambitious about Inclusion’ events, advocate for bold reform, and work in partnership to help create a fairer education system where every child is supported to thrive. If you would like to offer your support in making these recent government commitments a reality, please contact info@mission44.org.

Leicia Feare,
Mission 44, Associate Director of Communications & Campaigns