Children at risk of being expelled from school are getting help through sport and one-to-one mentoring at two schools in Brent and Barnet.

The help comes from the Saracens Foundation in a programme to prevent permanent exclusion and to tackle high rates absence.

Groups of youngsters are being monitored who are thought to be “at risk” at Kingsbury High School and Saracens High in Colindale, in a £30,000 programme funded by London Freemasons.

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“Exclusion destroys their education and has a devastating effect on their life-chances,” Saracens Foundation’s Richard Symonds said. “The Freemasons’ grant helps us support children at serious risk.”

Year 6 pupils from feeder primary schools waiting to join the secondaries are invited to sports ‘taster’ sessions then formally enrolled into the programme in Year 7, with its sports activities, breakfast clubs and weekly one-to-one mentoring.

This moves in Year 8 to fortnightly mentoring before they are trained themselves in year 9 as mentors for Years 7 and 8 pupils when they are considered no longer at risk.

This leads to team building with outdoor activities away from their normal school environment, a chance for many to travel outside their local community and away from their ‘comfort zone’. 

Programme organisers are on hand to check in on them during lessons, at break and lunch time and to help them sort out their own challenging behaviour if it arises.

London Freemasons’ Paul King said: “Exclusion from school is often a first step on a path through the criminal justice system — but the Saracen programme aims to turn their lives around before it’s too late.”

Brent in particular has high levels of poverty at 33 per cent compared to the London average 28%, with unemployment at 7.7% compared to 5.3%.

Youngsters raised on the poverty line are said to be six times more likely to be excluded from school.

But the Saracens’ programme at Kingsbury High and Saracens High has raised their school attendance up to 50% and rising, while also reducing detentions by 60%.