Chris Derrington and Sally Kendall, (2004): The National Foundation
for Educational Research.
This is a study, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, of 44
Gypsy Traveller pupils, aiming to gather and report the
personal reflections, accounts, expectations and aspirations
of them, their families and teachers during their first
three years at secondary school. The study is set within
a national and international context where Gypsy Traveller
children generally have limited engagement with secondary
education.
Data was collected twice a year over a 3 year period starting
in the Spring Term of 2000 when the pupils were 11. It was
collected through in-depth interviews with pupils, parents
and teachers, informal reviews with pupils and families,
and postal surveys to schools and Traveller Education Services
(TES).
Staying in and achieving at school is not a priority in
Traveller parents' cultural expectations for their children;
neither they nor the children themselves necessarily expect
them to complete even the first three years.
Increasing numbers of pupils are transferring to secondary
school and being retained at key stage 3, but too many are
still not being retained; in addition a 'worrying number'
are underachieving at key stages 2 and 3, and just under
half of those in the study were on the SEN (Special Educational
Needs) register, in comparison with one pupil in five nationally.
One of the biggest problems is racism and bullying encountered
by Traveller children at school, as well as a feeling from
parents that initiatives to keep Traveller culture alive
- which is very important to them - are not evident enough
in schools, particularly secondaries.
Traveller children are disproportionately excluded from
school; parents and pupils feel this is often unfair as
they are excluded for actions taken in retaliation to other
pupil's behaviour towards them.
Communication between schools and parents is key. TES staff
can make a big difference, acting as cultural mediators.
To read a longer summary of the report, visit www.nfer.ac.uk
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