Why We’re Here

LONG-TERM EVIDENCE OF NEED:

The government statistics for secondary-school exclusions have been on an upward trajectory since 2013.  These statistics also don’t account for large numbers of exclusions that wouldn’t have been officially reported by senior leaders of schools – such as through the systems of ‘off-rolling’ (including through the use of isolation and seclusion units) and ‘managed moves’.  

This evidence relates directly to I4YPC’s target audience of state-funded secondary/alternative education pupils at Year 9 and above (14+) and young people classified as Not Engaged in Education, Training or Employment – NEET.

The evidence is clear and disturbing:

  • Over 1 in 9 pupils in state-funded secondary schools will have experienced a fixed-term exclusion by the time they have reached school-leaving age
  • The rate of fixed-term exclusion is highest at Years 9/10, sitting at 12% and 13% respectively
  • Over half of all permanent and fixed-period exclusions occur at year 9 or above
  • Just over a quarter of all permanent exclusions were for pupils aged 14
  • Pupils of this age group also had the highest rate of fixed-period exclusions and the highest rate of pupils receiving more than one fixed-period exclusion

This evidence demonstrates that over 1 in 9 pupils are experiencing social disadvantage by being excluded from school at the most crucial stage of their education – the two years preceding GSCEs. 

Further evidence suggests that in 2020:

  • 115,000 (6%) of young people aged 16-18 were not engaged in education, training or employment.
  • On average, 682,000 (12%) of young people aged 16-24 were not engaged in education, training or employment.

In order to survive outside of education, socially excluded young people often deploy a range of maladaptive coping mechanisms, including: the misuse of drugs and alcohol, self-harm, domestic abuse of parents and/or siblings, social isolation and/or joining of gangs and neglect of their physical and mental wellbeing, all of which usually account for their eventual transition into the criminal justice system.

RECENT EVIDENCE OF NEED: CRIMINAL JUSTICE

A 2018 report issued by the House of Commons, shows that the level of knife crime in England (and Wales) is increasing, year on year.  In 2020/21, there were 44285 incidences recorded in total up to March “21; with juveniles aged 10-17 years counting for 21% of those.

According to the same report, 42.2% of young people between the ages of 10 – 17 will re-offend, once they have entered into the criminal justice system.

‘Innit’ tackles knife crime head-on; through a cautionary tale that takes the young audiences on a journey through life after the event – addressing choices, consequence and restorative justice. 

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