Newly released figures from the Department for Education (DfE) reveal a stark increase in school exclusions in the autumn term of 2023. Both suspensions and permanent exclusions have seen significant year-on-year rises, with experts linking these trends to behavioural challenges post-pandemic.
In an article by Freddie Whittaker for Schoolsweek he outlined the following statistics:
Key Statistics on School Exclusions
- Suspension Rates: The overall exclusion rate rose to 4.13 per 10,000 pupils, equating to 413 suspensions per 10,000 students. This marks a sharp increase from 2.96 the previous year and is almost double the pre-pandemic rate of 2.17.
- Number of Suspensions: There were 346,279 suspensions in autumn 2023, up from 247,366 in the same period of the prior year.
- Permanent Exclusions: These increased by 25%, from 3,104 in autumn 2022 to 4,168 in autumn 2023. The permanent exclusion rate rose slightly from 0.04 to 0.05.
Disparities in Suspension Rates
The data highlights stark inequalities in the suspension rates among pupils:
- Pupils on Free School Meals (FSM): These students were four times more likely to be suspended compared to their non-FSM peers.
- Year Groups Most Affected: Year 9 pupils experienced the highest suspension rate, closely followed by Year 10.
Increasing Frequency and Duration of Suspensions
The report underscores that not only are suspensions increasing, but they are also happening more frequently. Nearly half (46%) of all suspensions in autumn 2023 lasted one day or less. However, the cumulative impact was substantial:
- Missed Days: 35,800 pupils missed over five days of school due to suspensions, a 46% rise compared to the previous year. Alarmingly, 12,600 pupils missed more than ten days, a 59% increase.
- Repeat Offenders: A growing proportion of pupils are being suspended multiple times. In autumn 2023:
- 59% were suspended once,
- 32% were suspended two to four times,
- 9% were suspended five or more times.
Reasons Behind Exclusions
Persistent disruptive behaviour remains the leading cause of both suspensions and permanent exclusions. The breakdown is as follows:
- Suspensions:
- Persistent disruptive behaviour: 50%
- Verbal abuse or threatening behaviour towards adults: 16%
- Physical assault on another pupil: 13%
- Permanent Exclusions:
- Persistent disruptive behaviour: 36%
- Physical assault on a pupil: 16%
- Physical assault on an adult: 13%
Secondary Schools Bear the Brunt
Secondary schools accounted for 87% of all permanent exclusions, with their exclusion rate rising by 43% between autumn 2022 and 2023. Year 10 pupils were particularly affected, recording the highest rate of permanent exclusions.
Post-Pandemic Challenges
The increase in exclusions comes amidst reports of heightened behavioural issues among pupils, often attributed to the long-term effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. A DfE spokesperson noted that the rise reflects a combination of more pupils being excluded and exclusions occurring more frequently.
Conclusion
The sharp rise in school suspensions and permanent exclusions is a pressing issue that underscores the challenges schools face in managing pupil behaviour post-pandemic. With significant disparities among pupil demographics and year groups, there is a clear need for targeted interventions to address the root causes of these behaviours and support affected students.
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