London’s Mayor, Sadiq Khan says
"We know that children and young people are safer in school. That is why driving up attendance and tackling rising school suspensions and absenteeism is at the heart of the Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction Unit’s (VRU) prevention work. Since 2018/19, London has seen a 14 per cent rise in suspensions and a 106 per cent increase in persistent absenteeism. This has led to the equivalent of 1,430 children each day having lost learning in 2021/22 - up 71 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels.
We need a London-wide commitment for change for the benefit of young people to keep them safe and to support them to thrive in school. This must be backed up by investment to support schools and the promotion of good practice already happening across the capital.
The VRU has led a partnership approach to develop London’s Inclusion Charter, built on the voices of young people and informed by schools, parents and carers, local authorities and education specialists.
