The 2020 Campaign

Parents for Inclusion supports this campaign, launched on 3rd December 2004:

The 2020 Campaign:
to close all special schools and colleges in the United Kingdom.

This is a campaign led by disabled people and their allies to end segregated education by the year 2020.

A recent OFSTED Report into inclusive education demonstrates that there has been no overall decrease in the number of pupils attending segregated special schools in the last five years despite government rhetoric about supporting inclusion. Indeed the number of disabled children independent special schools is at an all time high.

There is a strong and valid Human Right case to end segregated education. There is much evidence to show that inclusive schools that have disabled and non-disabled children do better for all their pupils. Yet a large majority of schools, colleges, etc do not take on their statutory duties and make reasonable adjustments so disabled people can fully take part in education.

The 2020 campaign is based on the experience of disabled adults who went to special education schools and colleges. They experienced abuse, isolation and failure that emotionally scarred thousands for life. End this shameful exclusion that ruins lives.

The 2020 campaign wants to ensure that all local authorities plan and develop the capacity to accommodate all disabled people in all of their schools and that mainstream colleges do likewise.

Sixteen years is long enough to develop expertise and the capacity to include disabled people in education. Come and hear the experiences of special school survivors.

The 2020 campaign was launched on 3rd December 2004 (International Disabled People's Day) in Room C, 1 Parliament Street, Whitehall.

Go to the 2020 Campaign website

or phone

Richard Rieser on 020 7359 2855 or

Micheline Mason on 020 7735 5277

David Blunkett writes about the pain of being taken away from his parents to go to a special school at the age of four: "I desperately missed the hugging and affection of home .... this deprivation had a lasting effect on me well into adult life" from his autobiography "On a Clear Day"

Page updated 10 Dec 2004

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