Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) excluded children and (b) parents of excluded children Edward Timpson and his review team met with as part of the exclusion review by (i) ethnicity and (ii) gender.

The Timpson review was commissioned to explore exclusions practice and why children with some characteristics, such as children from particular ethnic groups, are more likely to be excluded from school. No data is held on the characteristics of the individuals who met with the review team, but understanding the variation in exclusion rates between pupil groups was a consideration across the review’s evidence gathering and engagement, and the report is informed by extensive engagement with all those involved in exclusion, including children who had been excluded and their parents.

The review heard from excluded children and parents during the call for evidence as well as during fieldwork visits. This included during visits to schools as well as meetings arranged specifically to hear from parent and carer groups. Locations for visits were selected based on matching areas with similar pupil populations, including the proportion who were from ethnic minority backgrounds. The review is also informed by independent research undertaken by Coram on the experience of children, including children who had been excluded, and their parents. Information on the gender and ethnicity of children whose parents spoke to Coram is published as part of their report. Information on the gender of children who spoke directly to Coram is also provided. Coram’s research is available here: https://www.coram.org.uk/sites/default/files/resource_files/School%20exclusions_full%20report_final_0.pdf.