The number of incidents of violence towards staff and pupils in schools 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 a pupil’ and ‘physical assault against an adult’.
The tables provide a breakdown of the number of pupils who have been excluded for a fixed period or permanently from maintained primary and secondary schools for physical assault against a pupil or an adult.
Maintained primary Maintained secondary Physical assault against a pupil Physical assault against an adult Physical assault against a pupil Physical assault against an adult Number Percentage2 Number Percentage2 Number Percentage2 Number Percentage2 2003/04 10,890 26.4 5,190 12.6 55,440 19.2 8,110 2.8 2004/05 11,950 27.3 5,960 13.6 65,790 20.0 9,490 2.9 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. 2 Number of fixed period exclusions by reason expressed as a percentage of the total number of fixed period exclusions. Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: Termly Exclusions Survey
Maintained primary Maintained secondary Physical assault against a pupil Physical assault against an adult Physical assault against a pupil Physical assault against an adult Number Percentage3 Number Percentage3 Number Percentage3 Number Percentage3 2003/04 290 22.7 290 22.9 1,380 16.6 820 9.9 2004/05 250 22.6 290 26.3 1,500 18.6 900 11.1 1 Includes middle schools as deemed. 2 The distribution of exclusions by reason has been derived from the Termly Exclusions Survey data and applied to the number of permanent exclusions as confirmed by local authorities as part of the School Census checking exercise. 3 Number of permanent exclusions by reason expressed as a percentage of the total number of permanent exclusions. Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. Source: School Census and Termly Exclusions Survey