School exclusion figures
ePolitix.com Stakeholders comment on the latest pupil exclusion figures for schools in England, published by the Department of Education and skills.
The official figures show that while the number of permanent exclusions fell by three per cent from 9,440 to 9,170 cases in English schools, the number of fixed period exclusions in secondary schools rose by four per cent to 343,840 last year.
The number of appeals against exclusions also dropped lat year by 2.7 per cent from 1,090 to 1,060. However the proportion of appeals determined in favour of the excluded party rose by nine per cent.
Government Response: DfES
Jim Knight, minister of state for schools, said: "The rise in fixed period exclusions reflects the tough approach schools are taking to address bad behaviour.
"They are using the short, sharp shock of a suspension to nip problem behaviour in the bud, and this is helping to stop this escalating to the point where permanent exclusion becomes necessary.
"We want to build upon this hard line on discipline, which is why we have given schools tough new disciplinary powers to instil the ‘behavioural 3Rs’ – rules, responsibilities and respect – more effectively.
"A teacher’s authority must be absolute, and if young people do badly misbehave, we fully support schools taking the tough decision to exclude.
"Parents must play a bigger role too. We have put in place powers that will help schools get parents to take responsibility for their excluded children’s behaviour including reintegration interviews, parenting contracts and parenting orders.
"And we want to stop fixed term exclusions being seen by some as an unofficial holiday so, from September, parents will be forced to ensure excluded pupils are kept indoors for the first five days of their exclusion – doing homework rather than wandering the streets."
Party Response: Conservative Party
Shadow education secretary David Willetts said: "We believe headteachers should have the clear right to exclude pupils without the current appeals process, which undermines their authority.
"How can you possibly maintain order when a child that you have expelled from your school wins an appeal and is back in your classroom?
"It is not fair on teachers or the vast majority of children who are at school to learn without being distracted by a badly behaved minority."
Party Response: Liberal Democrats
"It is rather suspicious that the government has chosen not to publish data on exclusions from their flagship academy schools at the same time.
"Academies are supposed to replace failing schools in tough areas so by leaving them out the government will have seriously altered the overall picture of school discipline.
"There are also indications that some academies use excessive exclusions and suspensions as a form of back door selection.
"To squash such rumours the government should publish the data immediately to show that it is not the case."
Stakeholder Response: ATL
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Dr Mary Bousted, Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) general secretary, said: "Unfortunately teachers and other school staff have to deal on a daily basis with unacceptable pupil behaviour.
"Our March survey revealed 99 per cent of teachers have dealt with disruptive pupils, and over a third faced physical aggression in class.
"And occasionally schools need to exclude or expel pupils to safeguard their staff and other pupils.
"But pupil exclusions are the last resort, so we are concerned to hear about the rise in cases of schools being forced to take back pupils who have been excluded.
"Regrettably these instances are not that rare and put a huge strain put on the teaching and support staff and schools.
"We hope the new disciplinary measures being brought in by the DfES this September - giving teachers the legal power to enforce their school’s code of conduct, and requiring schools to have a clear written discipline policy – will help school staff improve discipline in schools and have a knock-on impact on pupil exclusions."
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