Preventing Secondary School Exclusions

Key information

Publication type: General

Publication date: Monday 15 April 2019

In 2016/17 there were 980 permanent exclusions and 37,790 fixed term exclusions, compared with 780 and 34,965 in 2013/14.
Only 1% of excluded pupils get the five ‘good’ GCSEs they need to access the workforce.
Excluded children are four times more likely to have grown up in poverty, seven times more likely to have a special educational need and 10 times more likely to suffer recognised mental health problems.
Black and Gypsy / Roma children are consistently overrepresented in exclusion figures, as are those eligible for Free School Meals, pupils with special educational needs and Looked After Children.

The rise in exclusions is partly due to difficulties schools have in dealing with pupils with increasingly complex needs
Certain demographics of pupils are disproportionally excluded suggesting schools are either failing to support some learners or discipline techniques inadvertently discriminate against some pupils.
There is growing concern about ‘off-rolling’ – underachieving pupils being excluded to relieve financial pressure or boost school performance rate.

Provide help to prevent unnecessary exclusions
Review the supply of centres that specialises in supporting those at risk of exclusion
Actively monitor and challenge hidden exclusions