“Throughout these last few workshops I've learnt a deeper meaning of happiness”
Participant, In Isolation
In Isolation is a project about isolation booths - the solitary spaces used for discipline in secondary schools - and teenage happiness.
Young people who have spent time in internal exclusion at school are invited to work with professional artists to reimagine isolation booths to reflect the things that bring them joy.
I originally developed a pilot of the project in May 2026, in collaboration with researcher Poushali Ganguli, Young Vic Taking Park, and designers Finlay Jenner and Shani-Louise Osei.
We worked with seven paid ‘artist-researchers’ aged 17-22 to explore isolation and happiness. Each artist-researcher created a concept model of a redesigned isolation booth. They included a secret door into the roots of a pine tree, a caravan representing peace and a blank booth that audiences could paint themselves.
We are now working to develop a full version of the project, supporting more young people to develop their own artistic practice, take ownership of their educational experience and create a whole exhibition of full-sized reimagined isolation booths.
Internal exclusion is one of the most widespread disciplinary practices in English schools. It has no regulation, no time limit, and no official record. Schools can isolate a pupil for as long as they choose.
Over 8% of pupils in mainstream secondary schools experience isolation on a weekly basis.
Pupils in isolation lose an average of eight hours of classroom time per week.
Pupils with SEND and those eligible for free school meals are disproportionately affected by internal exclusion.
The practice remains entirely unregulated.
School isolation rooms are damaging pupil wellbeing, new study warns