Hackney's Children and Young People Scrutiny Commission is conducting an in-depth review of behaviour management and school inclusion, with input from Ofsted and the Department for Education (DfE). The commission received an update on the review at its meeting on Monday 15 September 2025.
The review aims to address the high levels of exclusions in inner and outer London. Councillor Siser highlighted the national focus on school exclusions and encouraged following the work of The Difference nationally1.
The council is also consulting on its Education Strategy, including Hackney's Additional Learning Service, Education Learning Service, or Additional or Alternative Service (HEALS), which aims to reimagine inclusion to reduce exclusions by focusing on outreach2.
The review has included public evidence sessions with contributors including:
- John Kennedy, Regional Director, Ofsted
- Claire Burton, Regional Director, DfE
The commission is now engaging with local stakeholders, school leaders, parents, and young people. A summary of the key evidence received to date is being prepared, along with possible outline recommendations3.
The commission plans to engage local stakeholders through a public call for evidence, writing to all schools to notify them and inviting them to participate in planned focus groups. Councillor Conway emphasized the importance of hearing from as many people as possible, encouraging community organizations like Hackney Quest and The Crib to participate4. Focus groups will also be held with parents and young people, including through the Hatton Youth Parliament and other youth groups.
Deputy Mayor Bramble reminded the Scrutiny Commission that the council is consulting on its Education Strategy, including Hackney's Additional Learning Service, Education Learning Service, or Additional or Alternative Service (HEALS), which aims to reimagine inclusion to reduce exclusions. Councillor Siso Runga stressed the importance of capturing all voices in the community and ensuring the engagement is timely, as school behaviour policies impact students daily.
Jason Marantz, Director of Education & Inclusion, noted that the council does not have say over individual school behaviour policies but aims to provide support by offering advice5. He indicated that the call for evidence will happen towards the end of September, beginning of October.
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Councillor Siser stated,
I would encourage everyone if they're interested in this topic, which we all are, to follow the work of the difference nationally. And this is an ongoing piece of work and one that we're very much involved with and helping drive. So watch this space. But again, part of a bigger picture than just acne, which is great.
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Deputy Mayor Bramble stated that HEALS is how Hackney is
reimagining inclusions to reduce exclusions and looking at the outreach.
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The meeting summary mentions that a
brief summary is being prepared of the key evidence the commission has received to date, together with possible outline recommendations, which will be informally shared with the commission to inform the progress of the review.
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Councillor Conway stated,
What is really critical for us in relation to this is that we're able to hear from as many people as possible. So those of you who have got sort of different community organisations, as Councillor Sissarunda mentioned, those who, you know, Hackney Quest and The Crib and those who attended our previous meeting, please do try to get as many people to sort of feed into this as possible.
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Jason Marantz stated,
the council does not have say over individual school behaviour policies. But what we want to do is provide support. And we've said many times in the chamber that as part of that, we intend to offer advice.
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