Boys are far more likely to be permanently excluded from school than are girls. Some 83 per cent of those permanently excluded in the school year 199697 were boys.
In total just over 10,500 boys were excluded compared with only about 1,600 girls.
A very high percentage of co-educational non-selective schools excluded at least one pupil in 199697. Some 74 per cent of secondary schools reported at least one permanent exclusion. However this figure includes those girls’ schools and selective schools where exclusions are much less frequent, even if they occur at all.
At the other end of the scale, 158 secondary schools each notched up more than 10 permanent exclusions. Thus 4 per cent of secondary schools were responsible for 15 per cent of the permanent exclusions in 199697.
There are significant regional differences. Generally fewer pupils are permanently excluded in the north of England than in London.
Since the period covered by these figures included the Ridings School saga it is interesting to note that Calderdale, where the Ridings School is located, had the lowest exclusion rate for secondary pupils of all the West Yorkshire metropolitan authorities. It was under half the rate in Leeds, Bradford or Wakefield.
Sadly, the trend in permanent exclusions from secondary schools is upwards, with a jump in of more than 10 per cent between 199495 and 19967.
Even allowing for an increase in the number of pupils, permanent exclusions rose over the two years from 0.31 per cent of the secondary school population to 0.34 per cent.
The position, as one would expect, is much better in primary schools where only a handful of children are excluded, mostly from upper junior classes.
In special schools there has been a 20 per cent rise in permanent exclusions over the past two years. Nationally, 0.64 per cent of special school pupils, and a much higher percentage of secondary age pupils in special schools were permanently excluded in 199697.
Indeed, exclusions among pupils with SEN statements was 1.11 per cent of the school population compared with a rate of 0.17 per cent of all pupils.
Two-thirds of exclusions were of pupils aged 13 to 15. Most came from inner-city schools, and started secondary school with a reading age behind that of their peers. How do we devise a curriculum that is meaningful and relevant for this group?
PERMANENT EXCLUSIONS IN ENGLAND
School years 199697 199596 199495
Secondary 10,463 10,344 9197
Primary 1,6573 1,608 1365
Special 632 524 522
Pupils excluded
With statements 1.10%
Without statements 0.14%
Source DFEE Statistical Press notice 45198
