As reported by BBC News, suspensions in England’s primary schools have surged to their highest level in over a decade, sparking concerns about lasting effects on children’s futures
The rate at which primary school pupils are being suspended from state schools in England has more than doubled in a decade, BBC analysis suggests. New data released on Thursday showed over 37,000 suspensions in primary schools in the autumn term of last year – almost as many as in the whole of 2012/13.
Permanent exclusion rates of primary-age pupils have also gone up – by almost 70% in the same period – with campaigners warning that affected children can experience long-term impacts.
The government has acknowledged the situation is at “crisis point”, and says it is determined to “drive up standards” in schools. The number of suspensions and exclusions in England’s state schools has been rising in recent years – apart from a dip during the pandemic when most children were educated at home – reaching their highest levels since 2006.
There were 84,300 suspensions in primary schools in 2022/23- a rate of 180 per 10,000 pupils. It has doubled in 10 years.
Vanessa Longley, chief executive of children’s charity Chance UK, says an exclusion can follow a child beyond their school life. Their research
suggests 90% of those excluded, external at primary school fail to pass GCSE English and maths.
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