England’s schools are under fresh scrutiny after government data revealed a sizeable increase in both suspensions and permanent exclusions.
According to the Department for Education, almost 300,000 pupils were suspended during the spring term of 2023/24, an increase of 12% recorded in spring 2022/23.
Suspensions have nearly doubled since spring 2019, surging 93% from 153,465 back then.
Meanwhile, permanent exclusions were also higher and went from 3,039 to 3,107, a 2% rise.
At Lewis Hamilton’s charity Mission 44, chief executive Jason Arthur said: “We are continuing to see the number of children losing learning due to suspensions and exclusions grow year on year – especially for vulnerable learners who face disadvantage or discrimination.”
The reasons for both the suspensions and permanent exclusions were “persistent disruptive behaviour” but many voices from the education sector say the figures tell a deeper story about post‑pandemic pressures.
Mr Arthur said: “Persistent disruptive behaviour continues to be the most common reason – yet taking children out of the classroom often only addresses the symptom and not the underlying causes of poor behaviour.”
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Campaigners and unions have also reacted with concern. Head of the Association of School and College Leaders Pepe Di’Iasio warned: “Young people only have one chance at a good education … missing classroom time damages their future.”
He urged ministers to back “early intervention strategies” rather than rely on exclusions as a quick fix.
Paul Whiteman, from the National Association of Head Teachers, echoed the plea, highlighting how poverty, the cost of living crisis and lingering pandemic fallout were fuelling bad behaviour.
He stressed that schools “need funded, specialist help” to tackle the root causes.
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Charity director Steve Haines said: “Over 295,000 suspensions is a stark warning: our schools aren’t set up to support all students. Disadvantaged youngsters are four times more likely to be suspended.”
The Education Minister Stephen Morgan acknowledged the “broken system,” vowing that the government’s “Plan for Change” will roll out mental‑health professionals in every school, boost SEND support and expand free breakfast clubs –measures he says will curb the “underlying causes of poor behaviour”.
