Secondary school exclusion and alternative education provision: unraveling connections with mental health and offending in adolescence, and mortality

The United Kingdom has one of the highest exclusion rates globally. While primary school exclusion is rare, secondary school exclusion often prompts engagement with alternative educational provision (AEP). This proposed PhD project will be the first to explore associations between secondary school exclusion and AEP, in relation to mental health, offending in adolescence, and mortality in young adulthood. The project poses three research questions: (1) What is the association between exclusion during secondary school/AEP and mental health diagnoses? (2) What is the association between exclusion during secondary school/AEP and prolific offending as a juvenile and as a young adult? (3) What is the association between exclusion during secondary school/AEP and early mortality? To address these questions, the research leverages three linked administrative datasets using advanced quantitative methods. This research aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of young people's mental health needs, considering differences in results for relevant sub-groups such as gender and social care. Beyond academic significance, the findings offer practical insights for policymakers and educators, guiding early intervention strategies through education, health and care services.

Overview

Grant agreement 2929676