New centre to launch in Northampton for students at risk of school exclusion

The department, which will be based at Northampton International Academy, will provide up to 40 places for struggling pupils to avoid them being off-rolled from school registers
By Carly Roberts
Published 10th Jul 2020, 11:20 BST
Updated 10th Jul 2020, 11:24 BST
Northampton International Academy will open the provision in September this year. Pictures by Louise Smith.Northampton International Academy will open the provision in September this year. Pictures by Louise Smith.
Northampton International Academy will open the provision in September this year. Pictures by Louise Smith.

East Midlands Academy Trust - which runs the Barrack Road academy - is to introduce a new alternative education department for pupils at risk of permanent exclusion from school.

Specialist staff will use 'bespoke behaviour intervention programmes' for pupils, including those with special educational needs, with the ultimate aim of supporting them back into mainstream education.

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This will be either a return to their original school or to a suitable alternative school place, therefore reducing the number of pupils in Northamptonshire not in a mainstream school setting.

Headteacher Tim Marston held the conference last year in March at the school.Headteacher Tim Marston held the conference last year in March at the school.
Headteacher Tim Marston held the conference last year in March at the school.

Joshua Coleman, chief executive officer for East Midlands Academy Trust, said: “When we hosted the conference last year, we recognised that the number of children being excluded from school was showing a worrying increase and we wanted to do something proactive to address the issue."

The introduction of the new alternative education department follows a special conference hosted by East Midlands Academy Trust last year.

It was attended by Ofsted, and school staff from across Northamptonshire to look at the issue of exclusions and the growing number of pupils being excluded from school.

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The rate of permanent exclusions has been increasing in Northamptonshire, rising from 95 in 2015/16 to 150 in 2017/18 while fixed-term exclusions have also increased from 4,651 in 2015/16 to 5,525 in 2016/17.

Mr Coleman added: “The new alternative education provision is our way of supporting those pupils at risk of being excluded from mainstream education.

"We will bring them into the unit and our staff will work with them on any behavioural or emotional issues with a view to getting them back into mainstream school.

“As a trust, we are incredibly passionate about making sure every pupil has an opportunity to be the best they can be. I’m confident that this new department will make a real difference to those students who might otherwise be failed by the current system.”

The new alternative education department will open in September and will open to pupils from schools across the county.

Related topics:NorthamptonNorthamptonshireOfsted

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