Excluded from mainstream - how Pupil Referral Units are transforming the lives of young people

By: Katie Orchard

People often think Pupil Referral Units are nothing more than a breeding ground for gangs. Recently they've had a lot of bad press - these perceptions can often be wrong.

I spent years working with vulnerable young people and I understand the importance of them having a safe and stable place to learn.

Being at the Pupil Referral Unit gives them the opportunity to do this combined with teachers that care and understand and really want them to succeed.

This is The Pavilion in Barnet - where all the children have been excluded from mainstream school. Talia is a former pupil and is back teaching a class trying to show them how they can turn their lives around.

A lot of the students here have complex needs which meant they couldn't cope in mainstream school. The timetables are designed around each child and classes don't have to be academic.> But it's not always easy and serious behaviour problems are the norm and violence can break out but it's a challenge the teachers are willing to take on.

The Pavillion works with other organisations and charities to give the children other support from therapy to practical life skills.

When pupils first arrive a lot of children are on the verge of going down a path that could ruin their lives. Being is this environment and the support they get here can give them another chance.