Children at schools in Brent and Barnet who are at risk of exclusion are receiving support through mentoring and sport, thanks to a £30,000 grant from London Freemasons to the Saracens Foundation.
The grant will support the Saracens Foundation’s Go Forward programme, aimed at preventing permanent exclusion and reducing disengagement from education. The programme, working with Kingsbury High School in Brent and Saracens High School in Barnet, targets students identified as being at risk.
Students in Year 6 are introduced to the programme through tag rugby sessions. In Year 7, they officially join the programme, which includes multi-sport activities, breakfast clubs, and one-to-one mentoring. The mentoring continues bi-monthly in Year 8, and by Year 9, students are trained as mentors themselves, helping younger pupils while no longer being considered at risk.
Saracens Foundation Project Officers provide 1:1 mentoring to identified Year 7 students. These mentors help the students manage their behaviour through individual action plans and ongoing support throughout the school day. A key feature of the programme is the end-of-year residential, where students take part in team-building activities outside their normal environment.
The programme aims to address the fact that only 1% of permanently excluded children go on to achieve 5 GCSEs. Brent, in particular, has higher rates of poverty and unemployment compared to other London boroughs. Research indicates that children eligible for free school meals are six times more likely to be permanently excluded from school.
In 2023/24, Go Forward had over 870 total impacts, 2100 hours of mentoring, and over 700 sessions delivered, leading to a 50% increase in attendance, a 60% reduction in detentions, and 100% engagement with mentoring.
The grant from London Freemasons was made through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families, and friends across England and Wales.
Richard Symonds, Head of Saracens Foundation, said: “We’re very grateful to London Freemasons for their generous grant which helps us provide essential support for children in Brent and Watford at serious risk of exclusion from school, helping them take full advantage of their education. Exclusion will inevitably destroy their education and have a devastating effect on their life-chances.”
Paul King from London Freemasons added:
“I’m really pleased we’ve been able to support the Saracens Foundation’s hugely important project to reduce the numbers of children excluded from school. Exclusion is very often the first step on a path through the criminal justice system and Saracens Foundation aims to help them turn their lives around before it’s too late.”
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