School bans hit record high

Britain's classrooms are in crisis with the number of children being banned for poor behaviour set to reach record-breaking levels.

New figures reveal there were nearly 300,000 suspensions in a single term - Spring 2024 - a 12 per cent rise on the previous year. If trends continue, the number of suspensions this academic year could top 600,000, pushing them to unprecedented levels.

Official statistics from the Department for Education show 295,559 suspensions and 3,107 permanent exclusions were recorded in Spring 2024 alone - the highest ever seen for that period.

In comparison, there were just 438,300 in 2018-19, meaning this year's projected total would represent a 36.9 percent rise over five years. It is also almost double that of ten years ago.

The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) today branded the figures a "national scandal" and warned the government must "get a grip of the mayhem going on in our classrooms".

Beth Prescott, the CSJ's Education Lead, said: "These shocking numbers show an education system in disarray.

"Suspensions and exclusions are rocketing, and it's children from disadvantaged backgrounds, those with SEND, and boys who are suffering the most.

"Children on Free School Meals are nearly six times more likely to be permanently excluded than their peers. Those with special educational needs are over five times more likely to be excluded than pupils without them.

"We're seeing a generation of 'lost boys' - boys are now more than twice as likely to be expelled as girls."

Experts say the crisis is being driven by a combination of post-pandemic disruption, soaring mental health problems, and a sharp rise in special educational needs (SEND).

The CSJ also warns that record levels of exclusion are only part of a wider school absence crisis, with 170,000 pupils now severely absent, missing more than half of their education.

At the same time, nearly one million young people are now not in education, employment or training (NEET) - raising fears of long-term damage to the economy and social fabric.

Beth Prescott added: "Exclusion is sometimes necessary to protect teachers and other pupils, but without urgent reform, we are setting too many young people up for failure.

"The Government must urgently raise behavioural standards, involve parents properly, and ensure schools are equipped to support the children who need it most.

"We also need to get children active again. A new Right to Sport for secondary pupils is essential to help build resilience, mental wellbeing and team spirit."

Susie Besant, Chief Executive of Oxfordshire-based charity One-Eighty, said: "These figures mirror what we see every day - a system buckling under pressure.

"Too many exclusions happen simply because the right support wasn't available early enough. Mental health needs go unmet. Neurodiverse children are misunderstood.

"If we don't act now, we'll condemn thousands to limited life chances before they've even left school.

"This is a matter of social justice. We cannot afford to wait."

The CSJ is calling for a full overhaul of current behaviour and inclusion policies, including:

A national review of classroom behavioural standards

A parental engagement strategy to support families

An "inclusion framework" to stop vulnerable children falling through the cracks

A legal Right to Sport to improve wellbeing and reduce conflict

Front-line support workers say the figures mirror the daily reality for families and schools.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: "These figures lay bare the broken system that this government inherited. Suspensions and permanent exclusions continue to creep up, costing all children and young people precious time at school and hampering their life chances.

"That is why, as part of our Plan for Change, we are turning the tide on the underlying causes of poor behaviour by providing access to a specialist mental health professional in every school, delivering free breakfast clubs in 750 early adopter schools and ensuring earlier intervention for pupils with additional needs."