ABSTRACT
Since 1997, the Labour Government has made a priority to tackle truancy, exclusion and disruptive behaviour in schools a key part of its strategy to raise standards and improve pupils’ performance in schools. This chapter focuses upon the following recent initiatives aimed at tackling truancy and, to a lesser degree, social exclusion. These include:
1 the concept of setting schools clear guidelines at all phases of schooling to raise standards and set clear targets for improving literacy and rates of truancy;
2 the link between truancy, literacy and attainment; 3 the establishment of local homework clubs, homework guidelines allied to
the development of pupils’ information and communication technology needs;
4 introducing the idea of pupil panels to tackle truancy and the use of classroom assistants;
5 providing guidance on standards and special educational needs; 6 the relationship between truancy and exclusion; 7 tackling social exclusion; 8 summer school initiatives; 9 second chance schools;
10 the inspection of local education authorities; 11 the privatisation of state schools.
