Pan-London Back On Track project

The development of Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) in London has grown into a professional, high quality provision that meet the needs of a wide range of children and young people across the capital.

London PRUs face new challenges with present changes to the education system. The importance of the role of educator and protector to some of the capital’s most vulnerable children and young people can never be overstated. Whether dealing with domestic violence, poor social skills, gangs, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy or school-phobics; it is the care and support of the staff at PRUs that can help a young person get back on track to achieve and succeed despite their circumstances.

Through the support of London Councils an ambitious project was developed to identify the strategic advantages London PRUs offer to their pupils.

This report contains the findings of several work-streams that have highlighted the leadership, creativity and implementation of programmes and concepts that can be unrolled across London PRUs.

The aim of the report is to create a ‘menu of choice’ for London PRUs to engage with the creativity and evidence shown by their peers to improve their provision. There is no prescription, no one-size-fits-all model. The evidence of strategic long-term benefits has been collected and it up to individual boroughs and PRUs to decide how best to meet the needs of their pupils and communities.

This report is testament to the hard work of all those involved, particularly the pupils who participated and the staff that helped identify learning that can be shared across London. We hope you read this report as part of the on-going journey of London PRUs’ journey to deliver world class excellence for all who walk through their doors and are given the opportunity to get back on track.

Cllr Steve Reed,

London Councils executive member for children's services and skills and employment 

• Workstream 1: Leadership Opens in a new window
• Workstream 2: Commissioning and Quality Assurance - alternative provision Key Stage 4 Opens in a new window
• Workstream 3: A good place to learn Opens in a new window
• Workstream 4: Restorative Approaches (RA) and creative problem solving Opens in a new window
• Workstream 5: Hearing the pupils Opens in a new window
• Workstream 6: Safety and cohesion programme Opens in a new window
• Workstream 7: Curriculum workbook Opens in a new window