Young people on the margins of school exclusion

Johnston, Craig

Abstract

This paper draws on a qualitative data analysis of the experiences of a small group of so-called ‘hard-to-reach’ disabled young men in Alternative Provisions (APs). Supporting young people has largely focused on the use of professional interventions. We contrast the young men’s experiences of professional service interventions with the complementary functions of social and psychological capital embedded in their own friendship networks. The young men rarely used the professional support offered, often finding professional practices and institutional systems unhelpful. This contrasted with the support gained in their own friendship networks which offered opportunities for enhancing well-being and agency. There are implications here for how young people facing risks associated with school exclusion and marginalisation can best be supported. We suggest that young people themselves are important agents in providing mutuality and solidarity, which can enhance various and varied life-course transitions.

Points of interest
Disabled, working-class male students are increasingly placed into Alternative Provisions intended for students who would otherwise not receive suitable education.

Supporting young people has often focused on professional interventions and the value of young people’s friendship networks has received little research attention.

This article is based on research with young disabled men on the margins of Alternative Provisions, located within a medium sized local authority. The research found that these young people are important agents in providing mutuality and solidarity. This can enhance life-course transitions.

Research on young disabled men rarely mentions emotion and intimacy. Our data identified instances of friendship offering young people the support necessary to endure problems related to exclusion and to collectively develop effective coping strategies.

The paper emphasises that the value of friendship networks should be acknowledged as part of work undertaken by professionals and agencies with marginalised young people.

• Presentation Conference Type: Presentation / Talk
• Conference Name: Centre for Marginalised Children and Young Adults
• Start Date: Mar 11, 2024
• End Date: Mar 11, 2024
• Deposit Date: Sep 27, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 3, 2024
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/13110738