Schools

Pupil suspensions hit six-year high after pandemic lull

But data for last autumn term shows permanent exclusions are not back up to pre-pandemic levels

But data for last autumn term shows permanent exclusions are not back up to pre-pandemic levels

Suspensions among pupils back up during second year of pandemic but exclusions still falling

Suspensions from schools reached their highest rate in at least six years last autumn, new data shows, but permanent exclusions are still not yet back to pre-pandemic levels.

Poorer pupils, those with special educational needs and members of the Gypsy and Roma community remain more likely than their peers to be excluded or suspended from school.

The Department for Education has started publishing termly data on suspensions and exclusions, meaning data for last autumn term is available earlier than it would usually be.

The statistics show there were 183,817 suspensions – previously known as fixed period exclusions – last autumn, equivalent to 221 suspensions for every 10,000 pupils. This is the highest level since current records began in 2016.

Exclusion rates are generally higher in the autumn term, and the rate of suspensions had been increasingly steadily, from 162 per 10,000 pupils in autumn 2016 to 217 in 2019.

However, the rate fell again to 194 in autumn 2020, which the government has put down to the Covid pandemic.

suspensions

The number and rate of permanent exclusions had not gone back to pre-pandemic levels last autumn, however.

Today’s data shows there were 2,097 permanent exclusions last autumn, equivalent to three per 10,000 pupils. This is below the 3,167 exclusions, or four per 10,000, in autumn 2019.

The most common reason for permanent exclusions was persistent disruptive behaviour (31 per cent), followed by physical assault against a pupil (16 per cent) and verbal abuse or threatening behaviour against an adult (13 per cent).

Persistent disruptive behaviour was also the most common reason for suspension (41 per cent), followed by verbal abuse or threatening behaviour against an adult (17 per cent).

Poorer pupils, SEND and Gypsy/Roma children most likely to be excluded

Boys continue to have higher permanent exclusion and suspension rates than girls.

Pupils eligible for free school meals were almost four times more likely to be suspended, and around seven times more likely to be permanently excluded than their better-off peers.

Pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) had suspension rates of over 600 per 10,000 pupils, compared to 144 for pupils with no SEND. Pupils with SEND but without EHCPs also had the highest permanent exclusion rate of eight per 10,000 pupils.

Gypsy and Roma pupils had the highest permanent exclusion and suspension rates – 12 and 917 per 10,000 pupils – of any ethnic group, with those of Irish Traveller heritage the second highest.

Indian and Chinese pupils had the lowest rates of permanent exclusions and suspensions respectively.

The permanent exclusions rate was highest in the north west (four per 10,000 pupils) and lowest in the south east and London (one per 10,000 pupils).

The suspensions rate was highest in the north east (343 per 10,000 pupils) and lowest in outer London (130 per 10,000 pupils).

Latest education roles from

Principal (Harrow College) – HRUC

Principal (Harrow College) – HRUC

FEA

Deputy Director of Apprenticeships

Deputy Director of Apprenticeships

Manchester Metropolitan University

Independent Non- Executive Director (INED)

Independent Non- Executive Director (INED)

League Football Education

Initial Teacher Training Programme Lead

Initial Teacher Training Programme Lead

Scarborough Sixth Form College

Sponsored posts

Sponsored post

Helping every learner use AI responsibly

AI didn’t wait to be invited into the classroom. It burst in mid-lesson. Across UK schools, pupils are already...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Retire Early, Live Fully: What Teachers Need to Consider First

Specialist Financial Adviser, William Adams, from Wesleyan Financial Services discusses what teachers should be considering when it comes to...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

AI Safety: From DfE Guidance to Classroom Confidence

Darren Coxon, edtech consultant and AI education specialist, working with The National College, explores the DfE’s expectations for AI...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

How accurate spend information is helping schools identify savings

One the biggest issues schools face when it comes to saving money on everyday purchases is a lack of...

SWAdvertorial

More from this theme

Schools

AI could analyse lessons delivered by new teachers under NIOT pilot

Artificial intelligence could be used to analyse recordings of lessons by early career teachers under a new trial being...

Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Politics, Schools

Reform government would ‘root out teachers brainwashing kids’ says MP Lee Anderson

Reform UK members tell party conference of need to crack down on 'brainwashing' teachers and stop schools 'becoming indoctrination...

Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Schools

Farage: ‘Let’s start teaching trades and services at school’

Reform leader also says he ‘will not stand for kids’ minds being poisoned in schools with a twisted interpretation...

Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Schools

Staff want compensation after summer cyber-attack

Schools warned incident could increase risk of phishing, fraud and identity theft for impacted employees

John Dickens

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *