Abstract

As part of a larger ESRC project on the political economies of school exclusions in the UK, this research examines alternative provision (AP). AP is a term used to describe education outside of a mainstream classroom. Pupils can attend AP full-time as an alternative to mainstream education or on a supplementary basis in addition to mainstream education. It can be arranged by a local authority (LA) or a school. AP provides education to young people who do not attend mainstream school; this can be because of school exclusion, physical illness, behavioural issues, mental ill health or additional learning needs (ALN). Where pupils cannot attend school, whether for health reasons or because they have been excluded from school, it is important that they still receive an education. Research explains that the AP sector is a bewildering array of projects. Made up of public, private and third-sector organisations delivering interventions, including vocational, academic, life skills and therapeutic programmes. This research draws on findings from interviews with ten alternative providers with divergent rationales across two LAs in Wales. The three themes emerging from the data analysis undertaken were rationale, results, and resources. There were differences in rationale with educational and vocational providers focusing on qualifications and transition into employment, education, and training and therapeutic, sports and arts-based providers concentrating on building trust, relationships, and life skills. All the providers had challenges measuring the results of their interventions. Providers that worked in schools did not have young people’s contact details to track post-programme transition. Others could track transition to further education, training or employment in the short term but could not capture the longitudinal outcomes.

The main finding of this research is that AP providers do not receive enough funding to cover costs, which could be exacerbated by a lack of evidence of effectiveness and clarity about rationales. The way AP programmes are resourced raises questions about the sustainability of provision, third-sector providers struggled to meet the core costs of programmes, private companies tended to be subsidised by more profitable parts of their organisations, and even public providers needed additional funding for activities.

Keywords: Alternative provision, Funding, Disengagement, Wales

How to Cite:

Bridgeman, J., (2024) “Examining alternative provision (AP) in two local authorities in Wales: Rationale, results, and resources ”, Wales Journal of Education 26(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.16922/wje.26.1.3