The number of exclusions and suspensions in England’s schools dropped year-on-year, official figures show.

There were 335,700 suspensions in the autumn term of 2024-25, down 3 per cent from the same period in 2023-24 (346,300), according to data published by the Department for Education today.

The 2024-25 figure was equivalent to a suspension rate of 4.02 pupils per 100, down from 4.13 in 2023-24. It is still higher than the pre-pandemic rate of 2.17 for the autumn term of 2019-20.

Some 3,700 students were permanently excluded in the 2024-25 autumn term, down 11 per cent from the previous year (4,200).

The permanent exclusion rate was 4 per 10,000 pupils, down from 5 per 10,000 the previous year. The rate in 2024-25 is similar to pre-pandemic levels.

Persistent disruptive behaviour accounted for 51 per cent of all suspensions (203,100) and 38 per cent of permanent exclusions (1,900).

Last month Tes reported on concerns that “persistent disruptive behaviour”, when cited as a reason for exclusion, has become too much of a “catch-all” term and needs a tighter definition.

Commenting on the latest suspension and exclusion figures, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union, said it was “encouraging to see numbers of exclusions among secondary pupils beginning to fall.”

However, he added that more investment is needed in social care, mental health services and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision “to sustain this and increase the likelihood of similar improvements across all age groups, and particularly for children with SEND”.

Regional differences

The North East had the highest rates for suspensions and permanent exclusions, at 6 per 100 students and 0.08 per 100 students, respectively.

Suspension rates have decreased in all regions except the East of England and the South East, where they have increased, according to DfE data.

Permanent exclusions have decreased or remained the same in all regions except the East of England.

Year 9s most likely to be suspended

The drop in the rate of suspensions in autumn 2024-25 compared wit the previous year was driven by a decrease in secondary schools.

But the number of permanent exclusions was highest in secondary schools at 3,100, accounting for 84 per cent of all permanent exclusions in autumn term 2024-25.

The permanent exclusion rate decreased in secondary schools from 0.10 per 100 students to 0.09. The permanent exclusion rate in primary remained the same as the previous autumn term at 0.01.

Year 9 continued to have the highest suspension rate at 11.12, followed by Year 10 with a rate of 10.50.

The suspension rate increased in all primary year groups except for Year 6 compared with the previous year, and decreased in all secondary year groups.

Suspensions of pupils on FSM

The suspension rate for pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM) was more than four times higher than the rate for pupils who were not eligible, with rates of 9.73 per 100 pupils and 2.11 per 100, respectively.

Permanent exclusion rates were also six times higher for FSM-eligible pupils.

The number of suspensions for pupils with an education, health and care plan (EHCP) and SEND support increased in autumn 2024-25 compared with the previous year. The rate for pupils with an EHCP was 10.3 per 100 pupils, and the rate was 11.09 for pupils with SEND support.

The suspension rate for both boys and girls decreased compared with the previous autumn term, from 5.15 to 5.01 and 3.08 to 2.99, respectively. Boys were still one and a half times more likely to be suspended than girls, though the difference was decreasing.

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