When teenage girls fall pregnant, many report facing stigma from teachers and peers at their own school. What’s less well known, however, is that the stigma often continues at the school their child attends, and often long after the mother has aged out of her teen years.

A growing body of research, including my own interviews with women who were teens when they had their first child, reveals it’s not uncommon for these parents (and their children) to face exclusion by other parents, or unkind comments from educators.

By better understanding the experiences of teen mums and their children, we can challenge stigma and ensure more equitable access to education.

Teenage mothers represent a minority of the population, yet are a vulnerable social group. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, teenage mothers are more likely to be from remote and socio-economically disadvantaged areas.

They often experience barriers in educational........

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