New data from the Department for Education has revealed a significant rise in school suspensions and exclusions across England for the 2023/24 academic year.
On the Isle of Wight, the rate of suspensions is notably above the national average, prompting concern from local education leaders.
Island suspension rate exceeds national figures
Peter Shreeve, Assistant District Secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), described the figures as more than a spike.
He said,
“What can be worse than the suspension and permanent exclusion figures focused on the autumn term 2023?
“I felt they reflected a ‘tsunami of suspensions and exclusions’. But a tsunami lasts a couple of days: this educational tsunami continued throughout the whole of 2023/24.”
Across England, there were nearly one million suspensions – an increase of 21 per cent on the previous year – equating to 1,131 suspensions per 10,000 pupils.
Permanent exclusions also rose by 16 per cent, with 10,885 recorded nationally. That works out at 13 exclusions per 10,000 pupils.
More than 2,300 suspensions on the Island
On the Isle of Wight, there were 2,348 suspensions last academic year. The majority were in secondary schools.
The suspension rate stood at 14.2 per cent of Island pupils, compared with the national rate of 11.31 per cent.
Thirty-one pupils were permanently excluded from Island schools: one from a primary school and 30 from secondary schools. None were from special schools.
While these numbers may seem small, they are higher than both regional and national averages.
Regional variation and long-term concerns
The highest suspension and exclusion rates nationally were found in the North East, where the suspension rate reached 18.42 per cent and permanent exclusions stood at 0.25 per cent.
London had the lowest suspension rate at 5.65 per cent, and both London and the South East had the lowest exclusion rate at 0.07 per cent.
By comparison, the Isle of Wight had a suspension rate of 14.2 per cent and an exclusion rate of 0.19 per cent.
Mr Shreeve said,
“Simplified, this is around 1 in 7 pupils suspended.”
He added,
“More pupils are being suspended, more frequently and for longer creating unintended long-term consequences.”
Call for government action
Shreeve blamed long-term austerity cuts for overstretched schools and underlined the need for systemic support.
He said,
“The austerity cuts of the last few years have shown overstretched and under-supported schools cannot solve this problem alone.
“If the present Government fails to fully act, this crisis of lost learning will become the present government’s lasting legacy.”
