[holding answer 30 January 2007]: The available information relating to permanent exclusions from maintained primary, secondary and all special schools is given in the table.
There are quality issues with data on permanent exclusions from maintained primary, secondary and special schools. A significant number of schools are known to have under-reported the situation. The Department has carried out checking exercises in each year to confirm the overall number of permanent exclusions. However, this only confirmed the number of exclusions in each local authority area and did not include information on the characteristics of the excluded pupil, for example whether or not they have special educational needs. Figures provided in the first table are as reported by schools and are known to be incomplete.
The range of indicators collected on excluded pupils does not include whether they were on dual placement.
Figures provided here refer to the cases of exclusion, rather than the number of pupils excluded as some pupils were excluded more than once during the year.
Maintained primary and secondary schools All special schools Number of permanent exclusions Percentage of school population4 Number of permanent exclusions Percentage of school population4 1997-98 Pupils with statements of SEN 1,700 1.21 550 0.60 Pupils with SEN without statement and pupils with no SEN 10,030 0.14 20 0.35 Total pupils 11,730 0.16 570 0.58 1998-99 Pupils with statements of SEN 1,530 1.04 390 0.43 Pupils with SEN without statement and pupils with no SEN 8,460 0.11 40 0.72 Total pupils 10,000 0.13 440 0.45 1999-2000 Pupils with statements of SEN 1,140 0.75 360 0.39 Pupils with SEN without statements and pupils with no SEN 6,800 0.09 30 0.57 Total pupils 7,940 0.10 380 0.40 2000-013,5 Pupils with statements of SEN 540 0.35 n/a n/a Pupils with SEN without statements and pupils with no SEN 7,800 0.11 n/a n/a Total pupils 8,330 0.11 390 0.41 2001-023 Pupils with statements of SEN 760 0.51 280 0.31 Pupils with SEN without statements and pupils with no SEN6 7,640 0.10 40 0.93 Of which: Pupils with no SEN 3,350 0.05 40 0.95 Pupils with SEN without statements6 4,290 0.32 * * Total pupils 8,400 0.11 320 0.34 2002-033 Pupils with statements of SEN 680 0.45 250 0.28 Pupils with SEN without statements and pupils with no SEN6 7,190 0.09 20 0.49 Of which: Pupils with no SEN 2,720 0.04 10 0.98 Pupils with SEN without statements6 4,470 0.40 * Total pupils 7,870 0.10 270 0.29 2003-043 Pupils with statements of SEN 720 0.48 230 0.25 Pupils with SEN without statements and pupils with no SEN6 8,130 0.11 30 0.99 Of which: Pupils with no SEN 3,300 0.05 30 3.18 Pupils at School Action 1,710 0.22 0 0.00 Pupils at School Action Plus 3,130 0.89 * * Total pupils7 8,850 0.12 260 0.28 2004-053 Pupils with statements of SEN 570 0.40 210 0.23 Pupils with SEN without statements and pupils with no SEN6 7,700 0.10 50 2.01 Of which: Pupils with no SEN 3.520 0.06 40 10.23 Pupils at School Action 1,580 0.20 0 0.00 Pupils at School Action Plus 2,600 0.71 * * Total Pupils7 8.270 0.11 250 0.28 * Less than five exclusions, or a rate based on less than five exclusions. n/a = Not available (due to quality concerns with the data). 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. 2 Includes both maintained and non-maintained special schools. 3 From 2000-01 onwards there are quality issues with permanent exclusions data. Schools are known to have under-reported the situation. The Department has carried out checking exercises to confirm the overall number of permanent exclusions in each local authority area but this did not extend to the characteristics of excluded pupils (such as SEN). Figures shown here are as reported by schools and are un-confirmed. Caution is recommended when interpreting this output. 4 The number of excluded pupils by SEN expressed as a percentage of the school population supported by same SEN provision (excluding dually registered pupils). 5 The SEN data reported by special schools for excluded pupils in 2000/01 is not sufficiently reliable or robust to be included here. 6 The introduction of the new code of practice means that the number of children with SEN without statements reported in 2000-01 and later are not directly comparable with earlier years. 7 Totals include those exclusions for which SEN (if any) was not known. Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: Schools Census
The first year for which information on exclusions from pupil referral units is available is the 2003-04 academic year. The available information is given in the table.
Number of permanent exclusions1 Percentage of school population2 2003-04 Pupils with statements of SEN3 10 0.26 Pupils with SEN without statements and pupils with no SEN3 30 0.34 Of which: Pupils with no SEN3 20 0.93 Pupils with SEN without statements3 10 17 Total pupils4 30 0.26 2004-05 Pupils with statements of SEN3 10 0.40 Pupils with EN without statements and pupils with no SEN3 30 0.35 Of which: Pupils with no SEN5 20 0.57 Pupils with SEN without statements 6 20 0.26 Total pupils4 40 0.28 1 The number of permanent exclusions from Pupil Referral Units is derived from Termly Exclusions Survey returns. 2 The number of pupils In Pupil Referral Units by stag of SEN (to derive the percentage of school population) is sourced from Schools Census returns. 3 The school population number includes pupils with sole registration only. 4 The school population number includes those pupils with sole registration and pupil with other providers. Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: Termly Exclusions Survey and Schools Census