A new report by MYTIME Young Carers, launched on 23rd September 2025 alongside parliamentary advocacy, has revealed stark inequalities faced by young carers in England’s education system. The study, titled Punished for Caring, shows that pupils with caring responsibilities are significantly more likely to be suspended, excluded, or referred to Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) than their peers.
Twice as Likely to Be Excluded
Using Department for Education data, the report highlights that young carers in secondary school are more than twice as likely to be suspended compared with other pupils. In special schools, the risk is even greater, with young carers being nearly three times more likely to be suspended at least once. In state-funded primary schools, young carers still face higher disciplinary action. They are twice as likely to be excluded and nearly three times more likely to be suspended.
Barriers to Learning
The report shows how the pressures of caring often translate into school difficulties. Many young carers face fatigue, stress and anxiety, which can manifest as disruptive behaviour or poor attendance. Nearly half (46%) of young carers are persistently absent at secondary school, compared with 23% of their peers. Achievement is also affected: just 55% of young carers reach the expected standards in English and maths, compared with 68% of other students.
Lived Experience
Case studies in the report illustrate the human impact behind the statistics. One young carer described being repeatedly punished at school without teachers understanding the pressures he faced at home. He was suspended, excluded, and eventually referred to a PRU before finally receiving the support he needed. Such stories reflect how easily schools can misinterpret behaviour without recognising the hidden challenges of caring responsibilities.
Call for Change
The report makes five key recommendations:
* Early identification and support for young carers.
* Training for all school staff and the appointment of a Young Carer Champion within all settings. *More inclusive approaches to discipline, replacing punitive sanctions.
Improved national data collection on young carers’ outcomes.
Greater accountability within education policy and inspections.
Parliamentary Momentum
With the report launched in Parliament, MYTIME Young Carers and MPs are calling for urgent reforms. Proposals include legal protection for young carers in education, ring-fenced funding for support services, and mandatory reporting of exclusion rates by carer status.
The findings make clear that young carers are being “punished for caring” — excluded from education not because of who they are, but because of the responsibilities they carry. The report calls for a shift from punishment to understanding, ensuring young carers are supported rather than sidelined.
Read the full report here: MYTIME Young Carers Punished for Caring Report 2025
