This student leadership project is a new model for engaging students in conversations about exclusion in their learning institutions. With the levels of exclusion in England both high and rising, Leaders Unlocked partnered with Leyton Sixth Form College to develop a student-led approach to reducing levels of exclusion. The students were supported to design, develop and deliver a training workshop for college staff.
Recruitment: Leaders Unlocked supported the college to recruit 15 Leyton Sixth Form College students to participate in the project, all with a keen interest in student leadership and making a difference to their college community. The students were guided by Leaders Unlocked throughout the project.
Workshops: Over the course of three workshops, we supported the students to design, develop and deliver a staff training programme aimed at reducing exclusion. The first of these sessions explored the students own experiences within the classroom and the second was a creative workshop to design the training. The third was a training workshop to equip the students with the skills to deliver the staff training.
Delivery: The project concluded with the students delivering the training workshop they had designed to college staff. The training explored: the types of interactions which can result in students being sent out of the classroom or excluded; practical strategies to avoid the escalation of classroom situations; and how we can better understand the motivations and behaviours of young people at a challenging point in their lives.
The levels of temporary and permanent exclusion from learning institutions across England are high and rising. Young people who are excluded from educational settings are at a high risk of being drawn into serious youth violence, other forms of crime, and the criminal justice system. The Avoiding Exclusion project is putting the voices of young people at the centre of efforts to reduce exclusion at the same time as empowering them with skills to support their futures.
If you’re interested in getting involved with the work we do at Leaders Unlocked, please do send us a message via our contact us page. We are always keen to hear from young people who may want to take part in our projects, as well as professionals who may want to collaborate.
More than 65% of our
staff came from Leaders Unlocked projects
"In this world it’s difficult for young people to feel like they have a say or a voice, and increasingly it feels like the world we’re going to be left is pretty crazy… in the midst of that it feels like we’re doing something positive and we are taking ownership of the situation."
Amania