Summary -  This case study shows how commited schools can work together in partnership with the LA to achieve significant reductions in exclusions and improve behaviour.     

Eight secondary schools (including two grammar schools) and three middle schools in Swale are collaborating to manage behaviour and reduce exclusions. The project was led by the LA and was driven by a desire to manage behaviour and exclusions in a better way, which recognises the need to work together in smaller groups in this, the largest LA in England. This approach is the culmination of several years of working more closely together. In the project's first year, schools were paired up with each other and asked to come up with a project plan containing innovative ideas that improved the life of young people. When these ideas were on paper and were deemed workable, each school then invoiced Kent County Council for the money they had spent on the project. The money paid to schools came from the savings accumulated by closing down a very expensive KS4 PRU. In the second year, schools were allocated money on the basis of how many KS3 pupils they had and the level of deprivation. Some schools grouped together and calculated the amount of money they should receive collectively. The money for a group of schools would then be paid to the fund-holding school. Schools not in a group would receive their funding individually.

This year (the second year of the project) the group have been delegated £300,000 by the LEA to allocate across schools according to need. This has funded additional behaviour teacher hours, family liaison workers, counsellors, social work time and police, often shared across several schools. Head teachers are also now involved in the management of the PRU (which attracts an additional £250,000), and PRU places are shared out between schools, according to their needs, for preventative work. Head teachers have agreed to contribute £2,000 for each pupil they exclude permanently; but they are now often able to arrange managed moves between schools. There are clear indications of success – there were 11 KS3 permanent exclusions in 2003/04, compared to 19 in 2002/03.

For more information please contact:
Bob McFarlane
Room 2.07
Education Department
Kent County Council
Sessions House
Maidstone
ME14 1XQ

01622 696367
Robert.Macfarlane@kent.gov.uk