Punished for Caring: Why We Must Confront the Exclusion Crisis Facing Young Carers

15^th Sep 2025

Today, MYTIME Young Carers has released a groundbreaking report: Punished for Caring: Suspensions, Exclusions and the Young Carer Crisis

This report, written by our Level Up Academy Lead, Shakira Bryan, is the first report to ever examine the specific link between students with caring responsibilities and referrals to Pupil Referral Units (PRUs). For too long, this connection has been overlooked, as young carers fall through the gaps in education and miss out on the same opportunities that their non-caring peers can take for granted.

Young Carers and School Exclusions: What the Data Shows

The findings expose a harsh truth: young carers who look after relatives at home are being pushed out of classrooms at alarming rates. Not because they are “difficult pupils”, but because the system still struggles to see the reality behind their behaviour.

Key statistics from the report:

In secondary schools, over one in three young carers have been suspended (34.23% vs 18.8% of peers).

In special schools, it’s one in eight (12.92% vs 4.75%).

Young carers are over twice as likely to face repeated suspensions or permanent exclusion.

Nearly half are persistently absent, missing an average of 23 school days per year.

Only 55% achieve grade 4+ in English and maths, compared to 68% of their peers.

data from report

Suspensions don’t just remove a child from the classroom - they can take away confidence, learning, and opportunities. For young carers, who are already juggling huge responsibilities at home, this can be devastating and have long-term impacts. As one young carer told us:

“I was just a kid trying to survive a home that felt like a war zone.”

Behind the Statistics: Voices of Young Carers

“Everyone told me what I was. No one asked why.
When I was excluded, I actually felt relief - at least it was a break from the chaos at home. But what I really needed was one adult who cared enough to listen.”

Stories like this remind us: behind every statistic is a child who didn’t choose to be a carer - but who deserves the same chance to thrive as anyone else.

Why Young Carers are Slipping Through the Cracks at School

The report highlights the barriers young carers face in education:

Invisible status: many don’t identify themselves, and schools rarely record them.

Misread behaviour: exhaustion, lateness or distraction are logged as defiance.

Inflexibility: no allowance for caring duties - homework still expected on time, no safe space to decompress.

The downward spiral: suspensions lead to bigger gaps, exclusions, and referrals to Pupil Referral Units (PRUs).

PRUs can offer smaller classes and tailored support, but they often carry stigma, limited academic routes and inconsistent quality. For many young carers, the move feels like being pushed out, not lifted up.

How MYTIME Supports Schools and Young Carers

At MYTIME, we know this change is possible - because we’re already helping schools make it happen.

Through our Level Up Programme and Level Up Academy, we equip schools with the tools, resources and strategies they need to properly support young carers. The report highlights several practical steps that schools can take to make a real difference, and these are the very changes we are helping to put into practice:

Recognising young carers as a vulnerable group in safeguarding, behaviour and attendance policies.

Training every member of staff to spot hidden caring responsibilities and respond with compassion.

Appointing a Young Carer Champion in every school.

Creating Flexible Learning Plans - time-out passes, safe spaces, adjusted homework, regular check-ins.

Making support visible and stigma-free through PSHE, assemblies and awareness days.

Whether you’re a headteacher, teacher or support staff, these programmes can help you move from reactive discipline to proactive support - ensuring no young carer is ever “punished for caring.”

Why This Report Matters

This is the first UK report to dig into the link between caring responsibilities and school exclusions. It combines national data, lived experiences and frontline voices from teachers, parents and young carers.

We see this as just the beginning. Punished for Caring is the first in a series of reports we will publish, each one building a deeper understanding of the barriers young carers face, and the changes that can - and must - be made.

👉 Download and read the full report here.

Together, we can make sure no young carer is punished for caring.

📩 If you’re in education, talk to us about how the Level Up Programme and Level Up Academy can help transform your school. Contact:

Dan Johnson, Level Up Programme Manager: danj@mytimeyoungcarers.org

Shakira Bryan, Level Up Academy Lead: shakira@mytimeyoungcarers.org

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