Peterborough ‘one of the worst five places in the UK’ for excluded pupils

Researchers from the social policy think tank the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) have drawn up a “league table” of the best and worst performing local authorities with points awarded based on Ofsted rankings, exam results, outcomes such as holding down a job, apprenticeship or college place, absence rates and levels of qualified teachers.

The CSJ said not one of Peterborough’s pupils in ‘alternative provision’ (AP), which helps those who have struggled in mainstream education, was served by an institution rated ‘Good ‘or ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, while two per cent of state-maintained AP pupils passed their maths and English GCSEs, compared with 55 per cent in mainstream education.

After leaving education, the think tank said 52 per cent of AP pupils managed to stay in education, employment or training, compared with 93 per cent in the mainstream system.

Attendance by Peterborough pupils in state-maintained AP was also said to be low at 55 per cent.

Including Peterborough, the CSJ’s report identifies five ‘AP cold spots’ where children excluded from school have a “poor-to-zero” chance of achieving good educational outcomes. These are: Tameside, Peterborough, Southend-on-Sea, Newcastle and Sheffield.

The Peterborough Telegraph reported last week how the education provider for excluded pupils in Peterborough is now being run by an academy trust.

Peterborough’s Pupil Referral Unit joined the Thomas Deacon Education Trust at the start of the month after previously being rated ‘Inadequate’ by Ofsted, prompting the city council to remove its governing body.

The unit, which runs across three centres, has been renamed the Richard Barnes Academy in honour of the trust’s founding chair of trustees.

Andy Cook, CSJ chief executive, said: “The Government must invest in spreading good practice and establishing clear benchmarks for the sector.

“Society will pay a heavy price for ignoring the needs of young people and letting so many leave 13 years of full-time education with little or nothing to show for it.”

To devise the report, the CSJ said it reviewed the existing literature on AP systems and quality and analysed published government data and data obtained through Freedom of Information requests.

Peterborough City Council has been approached for comment.