Agenda item

Sarah Whitby to report.

Recommendation:- To receive the report and note the contents.

Consideration was given to a report presented by Sarah Whitby, Head of Service – Access to Education, which provided context to the rising use of suspension and exclusions reported nationally and mirrored locally.

The report highlighted that there had been a rise in the use of suspensions and exclusions reported nationally and similar trends had also been seen locally with rates for permanent exclusions rising above national levels over the last two years. 

Locally collated and verified data had identified a difference to the data reported centrally through the census.  The Local Authorities data team were currently analysing the data closely to understand the differences reported.  It was also recognised that data from academic years 2019-20 and 2020-21 was impacted by periods of national lockdown and should be interpreted with caution. 

Fixed term exclusions had remained at a relatively stable level between 2016-2019 for Secondary settings but had subsequently been on an upward trajectory since 2021.  In Primary settings numbers of fixed term exclusions had fallen in 2023-24. 

Discarding lockdown data, fluctuations had been seen across Primary settings for permanent exclusions with 13 permanent exclusions issued for primary age children in 2023-24. 

The borough wide rise in exclusions was due to the increase in Secondary exclusions, which had risen year on year since 2021.

Analysis of Secondary setting suspension data showed a peak at Year 9 for suspensions issued which could be associated to the fact there had been no transitional activities in place for pupils moving from Primary to Secondary settings due to the lockdown period.  Analysis of Primary setting suspension data showed peaks at Year 2 and Year 6.

Permanent exclusions were highest in Year 10 at Secondary with 34 exclusions issued. Year 7 exclusions were raised as a concern with 18 exclusions issued for this year group, 13 of which were for a physical assault against an adult or pupil.

In Primary settings it was noted that the highest numbers of exclusions were at Year 2 and 4, with 6 out of the total 7 exclusions for these year groups being related to a physical assault against an adult or pupil.  There was also a higher percentage of SEND pupils excluded from primary settings than seen in secondary settings. 

Several key actions were highlighted as set out in Section 3 of the report.

Forum Members acknowledged the significant impact the exposure of social media platforms had had on negative pupil behaviour in educational settings.  

Forum Members queried if an upward trend had been seen in the numbers of assaults being reported and if this was reflective in the increase seen in the numbers of exclusions due to assaults.  The Head of Service explained that she was not aware if there had been an increase in the numbers of assaults reported and statistics could be analysed to consider any differences in settings in conjunction with how those settings are managed and supported. 

Agreed:-  (1)  That the report be received and the contents noted.

(2)  That a report on the Exclusions and Suspensions be presented to the Schools Forum on an annual basis.