Fall in pupil exclusions – NUT view

29 June 2006

Commenting on the 4 per cent fall in pupil exclusions, Steve Sinnott, General Secretary of Europe’s biggest teachers’ union, the NUT, said:

“”The drop in exclusions figures is very welcome and is a testament to the efforts of teachers and head teachers. But we need to be reassured that schools are not being constrained to keep pupils who, because of their behaviour, could be placed more appropriately in specialist provision.

“The decline in the number of reinstatements on appeal of pupils permanently excluded from school is welcome. Where a school has permanently excluded a pupil it is effectively saying it does not have the resources to continue with this pupil. For the sake of the pupil concerned and the other children in the school it would be better for the pupil to go to more appropriate provision.

“As the Minister says, the vast majority of children in our schools behave well with  most lessons taking place in a calm and ordered atmosphere. That is necessary for successful learning and the education of the majority of children should not be undermined by the behaviour of a few.

“But there must be alternative provision for those few who also have a right to education – no child should ever be written off. Help with behavioural problems needs to be available to ensure future opportunities are not blighted.”