Teen mums forced out of education by unsupportive schools

Pregnant teenage mums are being forced out by schools abandoning their education for ‘health and safety’ reasons.

A report published by children’s charity Barnardo’s, found that though the young mums they interviewed during their research had not actually been officially excluded, schools pressurised the girls to drop out because of health and safety fears.

The report, Not the end of the story, interviewed 38 young mums aged between 13 and 20 who were accessing service run by Barnardo’s.

The mums reported they faced difficulties at school including bullying, resorting in truancy.

Other mothers dropped out of education finding schools unsupportive and inflexible regarding their pregnancies, with no offers of educational alternatives.

Currently, 79 per cent of young mums are not in either education, employment or training (NEET) compared with around 10 per cent of other 16-18 year olds.

Author of the report, De Jane Evans said that included among the 20,000 girls under the age of 18 who become mothers each year are some of the most vulnerable youngsters.

Dropping out of school will impact their own future and that of their child’s.

She said: “Schools may worry about pregnant teenagers but it is important that they do all they can to help them complete their studies. We’re not denying that being a young mum brings extra challenges but teenage motherhood shouldn’t spell the end of the story.

“Helping and supporting them back into education will afford young mothers greater independence and secure a better start in life for their children.”

The age of compulsory education is to be raised to 18 in the year 2015.

Teenage mothers will also be required to remain in education until this age.