‘Shorter And Sharper Exclusions are Turning Around Poor Behavior’ in British Schools

New figures out today show that permanent school exclusions have dropped by 7%, whilst temporary exclusions have risen by 4%, as schools use short but effective punishments to turn around poor behavior.
Key figures for 2006/07 include:

* overall permanent exclusions down 7% to 8,680 on the previous year - a drop of 29% since 1997-98;

* secondary school fixed period exclusions are up 4% to 363,270;

* the permanent exclusion rate for boys was nearly four times higher than that for girls. Similarly, the fixed period exclusion rate for boys was three times higher than for girls;

* the duration of secondary fixed period exclusions with the vast majority lasting for no more than a couple of days. 29% were for one day, 72% for three days or less and 89% were five days or less;

* persistent disruptive behavior was the most frequent cause of permanent exclusions in secondary school, accounting for 2,360 cases (31% of all permanent exclusions);

* exclusions for pupil-pupil violence in secondary schools: 1,160 permanent (15% of overall figure) and 65,390 fixed period exclusions (18%) were for physical assault against a pupil; and

* exclusions for pupil-adult violence in secondary schools: 680 permanent (9% of overall figure) and 8,560 fixed period exclusions (2%) were for physical assault against an adult.

Children’s Minister Kevin Brennan said:

“Good behavior should be the norm in all schools all of the time. It’s simply not true that behavior is poor in schools or is deteriorating. That’s not just my view but that of Ofsted.

“Heads are taking shorter, sharper action to improve behavior to nip problems in the bud before it gets more serious, with most suspensions being for just two or three days. Permanent exclusions are down and temporary exclusions are up reflecting early intervention and a reduction in the most serious incidents of bad behavior.

“We are improving the way we deal with pupils who are at risk of exclusion. We are proposing a complete overhaul of how excluded pupils are dealt with as well as guidelines on how better early intervention can prevent poor behavior from deteriorating to the point of permanent exclusion - set out in our recent White Paper on alternative provision.

“But let’s be perfectly clear. Whilst I am very keen to see more intervention work and more preventive measures, where behavior warrants it, heads should not hesitate to permanently exclude pupils. They now have the powers they need to do this and, contrary to popular myth, only a tiny fraction of exclusions are overturned on appeal.”

Commenting on the number of pupils with a special educational need being excluded, he added:

“The exclusion of pupils with a special educational need is an ongoing concern and is an important reason why an appeal is sometimes appropriate. We have seen a reduction this year in exclusions of pupils in special schools, but more needs to be done.

“We have to strike a very fine balance between the safety of all pupils and staff and the needs of a minority of young people who may be very vulnerable.

“This is precisely why our White Paper lays out plans to intervene early and to recognize potential future problems before it’s too late. As these changes begin to happen I expect to see a reduction in the proportion of pupils with special educational needs being excluded because there will be less need to do so.”

Source: Department for Children, Schools and Families

Net News Publisher for World News