To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children have been (a) temporarily and (b) permanently excluded from schools for (i) violent behaviour and (ii) carrying a knife in each of the last five years. (272968)

Reasons for exclusion were collected for the first time in 2003-04. There is no category specifically on ‘carrying a knife'. There are categories for verbal abuse/threatening behaviour and for physical assault.

The latest data available are for 2006-07; information on exclusions for 2007-08 is scheduled to be published in the summer.

Information on reasons for exclusions is published as follows:

2006-07

Tables 9 and 10

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000793/index.shtml

2005-06

Table 8

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgatewav/DB/SFR/s000733/index.shtml

2004-05

Table 11

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000662/index.shtml

2003-04

Table 11

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000582/index.shtml