22 Jan 2022
Romany Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) pupils are less likely to stay in education after the age of sixteen than pupils in any other ethnic group, with just 73% of Irish Traveller pupils and 66% of Gypsy and Roma pupils staying on in 2016/17 (The latest figures made available).1 However, it is worth pointing out that this is for the pupils who manage to successfully remain in education until then and are likely to have a range of coping strategies. The higher numbers missing from education or moving to elective home education before the legal leaving age are not represented here which means that the real figure is likely to be much bleaker. It is also likely that many of the issues and challenges faced in schools by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils such as low teacher expectations, bullying and low prior attainment continue to be faced by these pupils.2