Co-op Academies Trust & Impetus

The need: Only around 5% of young people who sit their GCSEs in alternative provision pass English and maths compared to 67% of pupils in mainstream schools. Negative outcomes for excluded students persist well into adulthood: young people who have been suspended even once are twice as likely to not be in education, employment, or training (NEET) at 24 than those who haven’t been excluded. Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are particularly affected, as they are five times more likely to be permanently excluded than their better-off peers.

Our portfolio partner: Co-op Academies Trust runs 37 schools across the North of England and has prioritised offering high-quality internal alternative provision (IAP) in its secondary schools. By embracing evidence-based principles, the trust aims to improve outcomes for young people at risk of exclusion and lost learning.

Our impact: Through our joint investment with The Henry Smith Charity of £100,000 per annum for two years, Impetus is supporting Co-op Academies Trust to design and roll out high-quality IAP across all its secondary schools. This partnership will improve outcomes for Co-op Academies students while also contributing to the development of new insights for the wider sector on how high-quality IAP can promote student reintegration into mainstream schools.

We are very excited to partner with Impetus and The Henry Smith Charity through the Engage Fund to further develop our Internal Alternative Provision (IAP) model across our secondary schools: At Co-op Academies Trust, we believe that every young person deserves the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background or challenges they face. This partnership will allow us to enhance the tailored support we provide to students at risk of exclusion, ensuring they remain engaged in their education and feel a continued sense of belonging in our school communities. We want all our students to have positive school experiences preparing them for their future as we develop successful inclusion practises.

Chris Tomlinson, CEO of Co-op Academies Trust