The Independent carries a story about the economic impact of truancy from schools and some research that’s been done looking at this.
Martin Brooks, New Philanthropy Capital’s director of research, said: “Children who truant waste their potential, which is itself a tragedy. But truancy also wastes a massive amount of taxpayers’ money.”Cutting the number of exclusions by one quarter would pay for a doubling of the spending on books. These are fantastic returns from investing in charities that bring a fresh approach to the problem.”
The research can be found here. The report notes:
There is also evidence that excluded children are more likely to use drugs. Around half of children excluded from school admit to using illicit drugs, compared with 15% of all children. Greater drug use is clearly a health risk and increases the likely costs created by excluded children to the NHS.
Looking at prevention initiatives they say the following about School-Home Support:
The results showed significant reductions in self-reported theft, truancy, bullying, hard drug use and exclusions.
Truants cost economy £800m a year – Independent Online Edition > News
Filed under: exclusions, research, risk and protective factors
