“Everyone wants their child to learn and access education”: Irish Traveller and Romany Gypsy young people and their experiences of education featured on BBC Look North

It’s a usual busy Wednesday at Leeds GATE. Senior Youth Worker Grace and community tutor Angela prepare an open and airy space for the arrival of their groups of young people.

Soon the room fills up and the session starts. Maths first, crafts afterwards. But this isn’t a school, or a classroom – but it’s a place where young Gypsy and Traveller people are coming to learn.

We worked and filmed with BBC Look North Investigations over a number of months on this story, to show some of the individual stories behind the statistics.

A study group at Leeds GATE in Leeds takes place once a week, with similar groups run by our community tutor in Bradford and Wakefield, with young Romany Gypsy and Irish Traveller people aged 10-14, who aren’t in full-time education. These are followed by youth sessions in each region with different activities and trips, and opportunities to socialise and make friends.

Recent government data available for Irish Traveller children shows that more than half across Yorkshire and the Humber were absent in the last academic year, compared to one in five across all other ethnic groups.

A new report released last month by the Institute of Public Policy Research also shows that Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children are the most disproportionately excluded groups from UK schools, with "an underestimation of racism experienced outside and within school".

Experiences of racism and discrimination by teachers and peers were shown to negatively impact children’s feelings of safety, as well as physical and mental health.

We don’t know data for how many Gypsy or Traveller young people are being home educated but we do know the numbers have sharply increased since 2019 and not gone back down. From 2019 – 2023, numbers of children being home educated has increased by 60%, with most being of secondary school age.

Grace Cunningham, a Senior Youth Worker at Leeds GATE, has worked at the organisation for six and a half years and is of Gypsy heritage. She talked to BBC Look North about why some parents and families choose to take their children out of school.

“People take their children out of school sometimes due to cultural beliefs, and because the child is getting bullied so they home educate them. I see young people through my door on a regular basis, in fact a daily basis, struggling because these experiences isolate them and they might not get the experiences other young people get.”

“Young people come to Leeds GATE because it’s safe and inclusive and they want to learn. They can take pride in and learn more about their culture. We want them to reach their goals however that looks for them.”

Children are taught English and maths and lots of other life skills like cooking and enterprise. Older teenagers can come for support with functional skills and college applications.

Over the last year, at least 52 young people that are electively home educated attended homework clubs or received homework packs from our community tutor. Over 100 have come to youth group sessions across Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield in that same time. Three young people have also been supported to apply for college for this September.

Support provided by Leeds GATE and other charities is filling in gaps left by austerity. In the over 20 years Leeds GATE has operated, funding to Travellers Education Services operated by UK councils doing vital outreach and engagement work was cut, often completely, meaning many have not existed for many years. Families often talk of it fondly.

Many of the young people featured shared their experiences of feeling excluded and lonely in school leading to them leaving.

Donna-Marie left school in her third year. “There weren’t any other Travellers in the school. I was getting asked every day if I was a Traveller and it made me feel so different.

Precious also left during her secondary school years. “People are different to you because you’re a Gypsy or Traveller.

Edee agreed, “I left because I didn’t feel included in things we did in school.”

All three girls now attend homework clubs regularly. Donna-Marie shared, “I like it more than school because there’s more Gypsies and Travellers and you’re more included.”

Edee now feels more supported. “When you’re at Leeds GATE you have a one-on-one teacher who will come round and talk to you. But at school he or she has to help a full classroom and then help you. But at Leeds GATE I feel a lot better about that because if I am struggling with something Angela will help me.”

Ellie Rogers, Leeds GATE’s CEO praised the work done by Gypsy and Traveller organisations to support families and young people, but called on more support from within the education system.

“The work that’s been done so far has been led by charities and organisations like Leeds GATE who aren’t in the education system. Fundamentally change needs to come from within the system itself, for example employing Gypsy and Traveller staff within schools and celebrating Gypsy Roma Traveller history month every year in June. Things like that really let communities know they are included.”

“Leeds GATE continues to support families with education options and their right to access further and higher education if they wish. We also continue to engage with schools, colleges, universities and other education partners in our work across West Yorkshire providing resources and training, developing relationships and encouraging schools to take the GRTSB Pledge to improve access to education and representation of Gypsies and Travellers heritage and culture.”

Some of the young people can start to look toward the future and their aspirations. “In a few years’ time I’d like to move away and start my own life and I’d like to be a dress-maker.”

Another young boy said, “I’m looking forward to working with my Dad in his business and making money from there.”

Grace is passionate about supporting children to reach their potential and access learning.

“Every family wants their child to have an education and just because some of our children don’t attend school doesn’t mean they’re not getting an education. Education comes in many forms and we’re really proud to provide spaces where our young people can safely learn.”