The number of incidents of violence towards staff and pupils is not collected centrally.
From the academic year 2003/04, information is available on the reasons for pupil exclusions. These reasons include ‘physical assault against an adult’ and ‘physical assault against a pupil’.
The table provides a breakdown of the number of permanent and fixed period exclusions during 2004/05 from maintained primary and secondary schools for physical assault against a pupil or an adult in schools with the highest and lowest proportion of school population known to be eligible for free school meals.
Exclusions data are collected retrospectively. The latest available exclusions data relate to the 2004/05 academic year. Information on exclusions during the 2005/06 academic year is expected to be released in June 2007.
Maintained primary schools Maintained secondary schools 10 per cent. of schools with: 10 per cent. of schools with: lowest percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals3 highest percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals3 All schools lowest percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals3 highest percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals3 All schools Number of schools4 1,766 1,764 17,642 339 339 3,367 Exclusions for physical assault against an adult Number of fixed period exclusions 120 1,410 5,960 210 1,700 9,490 Fixed period exclusions per 1,000 pupils 0.40 2.89 1.42 0.59 5.79 2.86 Number of permanent exclusions2 5— 70 280 10 160 870 Permanent exclusions per 1,000 pupils 5— 0.15 0.07 0.04 0.56 0.26 Exclusions for physical assault against a pupil Number of fixed period exclusions 210 2,810 11,950 2,460 7,250 65,790 Fixed period exclusions per 1,000 pupils 0.70 5.74 2.84 7.04 24.70 19.84 Number of permanent exclusions2 5— 50 240 40 220 1,460 Permanent exclusions per 1,000 pupils 5— 0.11 0.06 0.10 0.76 0.44 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. 2 Published statistics (SFR 24/2006) on permanent exclusions have been derived from data collected via the school census. These data did not include the reason for exclusion. Figures shown in this table relating to permanent exclusions have been derived from Termly Exclusions Survey returns and will not match published figures on permanent exclusions. 3 Information on the proportion of school population known to be eligible for free school meals has been derived from 2005 school census returns. Schools have been ranked based on the percentage of full-time pupils aged 0 to 15 and part-time pupils aged five to 15 who are known to be eligible for free school meals. 4 Schools were sorted by the proportion of school population known to be eligible for free school meals and size of school population. Three primary schools had the same free school meal percentage and school population at the end of the lowest 10 per cent. band and have all been included in this analysis (pushing the band size to 1,766 instead of 1,764). 5 One or two exclusions, or a rate based on one or two exclusions. Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. There may be discrepancies between the sum of constituent items and totals as shown. Source: Termly Exclusions Survey and School Census