Exclusions data is released

The DfE has published exclusions data for the academic year 2018-19. These indicate that the rate of permanent exclusions remains stable at 0.10 (i.e. 10 pupils per 1000) with a decrease in the numbers to 7,894, but the rate of fixed period exclusions has risen by 7% to 5.36 (536 pupils per 1000) with 438,265 fixed period exclusions. This increase in fixed period exclusions is driven by the increase in secondary schools (from 10.13 to 10.75). The rate of permanent exclusions in special schools decreased from 0.07 to 0.06, though the rate in pupil referral units has increased from 0.16 to 0.22.

Persistent disruptive behaviour remains the most common reason for both types of exclusion. Boys continue to have higher exclusions rates than girls, though this gap has reduced. Both types of exclusion remain higher for pupils with SEN:

• The permanent exclusion rate for pupils with an EHCP is 0.15, compared to 0.32 for pupils on SEN Support and 0.06 for pupils with no SEN.
• The fixed period exclusion rate for pupils with and EHCP is 16.11, compared to 15.59 for pupils on SEN Support and 3.57 for pupils with no SEN. In 2017-18, these figures were 15.95, 15.10 and 3.36 respectively.

There is regional variation, and this can be explored on the web page, as can further pupil characteristics, reasons for exclusions and exclusion reviews.