Stephen Baker, OBE FCCT and Andrew Pearl, Assistant Head at Everton Free School and Football College are pioneering new strategies to address behavioural challenges and criminal exploitation among vulnerable youth in Liverpool. Their innovative approach integrates multi-agency collaboration and focuses on understanding and meeting the underlying needs of at-risk students. On average, over 40 children are being referred to social services each day in England due to concerns that they have been exploited by gangs (BBC).

Online Safety Conference

Holistic Education and Behavioural Management

Baker’s career spans leading various alternative provision and special schools, transforming them into outstanding institutions according to Ofsted inspections. At Everton Free School, they aim to innovate and adapt educational strategies to meet the needs of vulnerable and challenging students. Instead of relying on punitive measures, Baker and his team adopt a multi-agency, relational approach, recognising that behaviour is a form of communication often linked to unmet needs.

Multi-Agency Task Force

One of the significant initiatives led by Andrew Pearl involves a government-funded task force aimed at addressing issues that lead to criminality among children. The AP Taskforce includes educational psychologists, school nurses, counsellors, speech and language therapists, youth offending workers, family support workers, youth workers, and career coaches, all working collaboratively to tackle the root causes of problematic behaviour.

Success Stories and Impact

A notable success story is that of Marshall, a student at high risk of exploitation in Liverpool. Through the support provided by Everton Free School, Marshall turned his life around and now aspires to become a fireman. This and other success stories underline the impact of Baker and Pearl’s approach.

“The DfE visited us to monitor progress and made a video of Marshall, one of our students. The video sees Marshall discuss the impact this programme has had on him and, to date, has had over 170,000 views (and a retweet with a positive comment from Gary Lineker no less!).” – Everton Free School

Cradle to Career Project

Baker has also been instrumental in the Cradle to Career project in North Birkenhead, one of the most socio-economically deprived areas in the UK. This initiative, supported by local philanthropists and trusts, focuses on early intervention and community collaboration to transform lives from early childhood through to career readiness. The project has shown remarkable success, leading to improved educational outcomes and a significant reduction in social service interventions.

Relational and Place-Based Approaches

The core of Baker and Pearl’s strategy lies in relationship-building and place-based approaches. By co-locating professionals within the school environment, they can address the multifaceted needs of students more effectively. This proximity fosters better understanding and more robust support for students and their families, leading to improved engagement and outcomes.

Future Directions

The success of these initiatives has garnered additional funding and recognition, extending the task force’s operations until at least March 2025. Preliminary research indicates positive impacts on attendance and engagement, validating the effectiveness of their holistic, relational approach.

In summary, Stephen Baker and Andrew Pearl’s work at Everton Free School and beyond exemplifies innovative educational practices that address behavioural challenges and criminal exploitation through a comprehensive, multi-agency strategy. Their focus on understanding and meeting the underlying needs of students, building strong relationships, and integrating community resources offers a model for transforming the lives of vulnerable youth.

The Online Safety Conference 2024: Safeguarding Children in a Digital World

Keynote: The Online Safety Act: A National Update on Online Harms for Children and Young People

  • A national update on the impact of the new legislation for professionals with safeguarding responsibilities
  • Advice for engaging with social media platforms to remove and report harmful material
  • Guidance on providing children, families, and carers with clear information about accessible ways to report potential online safety issues
  • Strategies for dealing with new offences under the Online Safety Act including sexual abuse and revenge porn

Rich Collard, Associate Head of Policy – Child Safety Online, NSPCC 

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Stephen Baker, the principal of Everton Free School and Football College, and Assistant Head Andrew Pearl, are pioneering new strategies to address behavioural challenges and criminal exploitation among vulnerable youth in Liverpool. Their innovative approach integrates multi-agency collaboration and focuses on understanding and meeting the underlying needs of at-risk students.

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