School exclusion statistics for 2009/10

The Department has published the annual school exclusion statistics for 2009/10. The figures show:

• There were an estimated 5,740 permanent exclusions from primary, secondary and all special schools in 2009/10.
• There were 279,260 fixed period exclusions from state funded secondary schools, 37,210 fixed period exclusions from primary schools and 14,910 fixed period exclusions from special schools.
• The average length of a fixed period exclusion in state funded secondary schools was 2.5 days, for primary schools the average length of a fixed period exclusion was 2.1 days.
• The permanent exclusion rate for boys was approximately four times higher than that for girls. The fixed period exclusion rate for boys was almost three times higher than that for girls.
• Pupils with SEN with statements are around eight times more likely to be permanently excluded than those pupils with no SEN.
• Children who are eligible for free school meals are around four times more likely to receive a permanent exclusion and three times more likely to receive a fixed period exclusion than children who are not eligible for free school meals.
• Nearly 900 children are suspended from school for abuse and assault every school day.