5 Years of Exclusion and Suspension Data for Schools in England
5 Years of Exclusion and Suspension Data for Schools in England
Our expert solicitors at IBB Law have analysed and dissected permanent exclusion and suspension data in England, from the academic year 2016/17 through to 2021/22, which were published by the Department for Education (DfE) at the end of 2023.
The data threw up a number of notable statistics and trends, highlighting many of the potential issues schools and parents are facing when it comes to dealing with children’s behaviour.
The report from the DfE presented a large data set, which our team have closely reviewed and summarised into various key sections. This data has been further broken down to assess:
- Areas in England with highest numbers of exclusions and suspensions
- How exclusions and suspensions vary between different types of schools
- The most common reasons for exclusions and suspensions across regions and school types
- An in-depth look at statistics concerning South East England
Key Exclusion and Suspension Statistics for England Schools
- 1,200,186 (2%) of all pupils in England were excluded and/or suspended between 2016 and 2022.
- The North East was the region with the highest percentage of exclusions and suspensions in England.
- Outer London was the region with the lowest percentage of exclusions and suspensions in England.
- Multiple regions saw an increase in exclusions and suspensions in 2021/22.
- All regions in the north were above the national average for the percentage of exclusions and suspensions.
- The most common reason for exclusions in both special schools and state-funded primary schools was the physical abuse of an adult.
- Sexual misconduct was the reason for 3 times as many exclusions than bullying in state-funded primary schools.
- Offensive weaponry was one of the three most common reasons for exclusions in Inner London and Outer London.
Total Exclusions and Suspensions Across England
We were able to take a broad look at the data presented by the DfE to piece together various important statistics relating to the total number of exclusions and suspensions. This data then allowed us to determine which areas in England, and school types, experience the most exclusions and suspensions.
Before presenting the data, it is important that we distinguish the differences between exclusions and suspensions. Exclusions and suspensions are the result of a child misbehaving in or outside of school and are sanctioned by headteachers.
In this context, when we discuss exclusions, we are referring to permanent exclusions. A permanent exclusion (also referred to as an expulsion) means that a child is no longer allowed to attend a school. A suspension occurs when a child is temporarily removed from a school.
As a summary, the total number of exclusions, and pupils with one or more suspensions, between the academic years 2016/17 through to 2021/22 was 1,200,186. This figure works out as 2% of the total headcount (49,212,004) for that period.
Top Locations in England for Exclusions and Suspensions
From the statistics presented by DfE, we are able to determine which regions in England:
- Had the highest number of total exclusions and suspensions
- Had the highest percentage of exclusions and suspensions (compared to total head count)
- Were above or below the national average for exclusions and suspensions
Regional Results
Regional figures showing the percentage of exclusions and suspensions vs headcount between the academic year 2016/17 to 2021/22:
| Region | Total exclusions and pupils with one or more suspension | Percentage of pupils excluded/suspended vs headcount |
| 1. North East | 66,928 | 2.86% |
| 2. Yorkshire and The Humber | 141,437 | 2.83% |
| 3. South West | 120,909 | 2.68% |
| 4. West Midlands | 141,497 | 2.57% |
| 5. North West | 165,244 | 2.49% |
| 6. Inner London | 64,569 | 2.48% |
| 7. East Midlands | 99,480 | 2.35% |
| 8. East of England | 127,502 | 2.31% |
| 9. South East | 168,881 | 2.19% |
| 10. Outer London | 103,739 | 2.03% |
The ranking order is sorted by the percentage of exclusions and percentages from highest to lowest. This tells us that the North East experienced the highest percentage of exclusions and suspensions, despite having the second lowest number of total exclusions and suspensions (66,928).
Yorkshire and The Humber, the South West, the West Midlands, the North West and Inner London were all above the national average with regards to the percentage of exclusions and suspensions.
Outer London had the lowest percentage of exclusions and suspensions, followed by the South East.
All of England’s northern regions are above the national average for exclusions and suspensions, which would suggest that there is a north/south divide with regards to behavioural standards in schools.
This is an issue which has been widely debated and investigated in recent years, likely stemming from the fact that there are more areas in the north of England which are considered to be ‘working class’, containing lower income households.
Previous research has noted that children from lower income households are more likely to experience poorer cognitive, social-behavioural and health outcomes, which could potentially provide an explanation for the north/south divide presented in the data.
When looking at the data in more detail, a notable trend that warranted a closer inspection was the increase in the numbers of exclusions and suspensions in the period between 2019/20 and 2021/22:
| Region | % of 19/20 | % of total 21/22 |
| East Midlands | 1.83% | 3.15% |
| East of England | 1.84% | 2.93% |
| Inner London | 2.00% | 2.85% |
| North East | 2.32% | 3.71% |
| North West | 1.94% | 3.26% |
| Outer London | 1.57% | 2.47% |
| South East | 1.76% | 2.66% |
| South West | 2.17% | 3.34% |
| West Midlands | 2.01% | 3.32% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 2.24% | 3.70% |
The most logical explanation for this increase in certain regions would be the widespread impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Previous reports and research have indicated that the social isolation policies enforced during the height of the pandemic, as well as the preventative measures introduced when pupils returned to school, have had a detrimental impact on general behaviour.
Ofsted research published in 2023 noted that 42% of teachers had recognised the decrease in behaviour standards since the pandemic, with former Ofsted head Amanda Spielman citing a lack of ‘socialisation’ as being a key factor in this.
Local authority results
In addition to assessing regions as a whole, we have also taken a closer look at data relating to local authorities in England, including the ten local authorities with the highest and lowest percentages of exclusions and suspensions.
Top 10 local authorities in England with highest percentage of exclusions and suspensions were:
| Redcar and Cleveland (North East) | 4.74% |
| Doncaster (Yorkshire and the Humber) | 4.54% |
| Hartlepool (North East) | 4.33% |
| Middlesbrough (North East) | 4.28% |
| Nottingham (East Midlands) | 3.94% |
| Blackpool (North West) | 3.82% |
| Barnsley (Yorkshire and the Humber) | 3.68% |
| Stoke-on-Trent (North East) | 3.65% |
| Tameside (North West) | 3.62% |
| Hackney (East London) | 3.58% |
The ten local authorities with the lowest percentage of exclusions and suspensions were:
| Warrington (North West) | 1.65% |
| Wandsworth (Inner London) | 1.63% |
| Harrow (Outer London) | 1.49% |
| Rutland (East Midlands) | 1.49% |
| Richmond upon Thames (Outer London) | 1.42% |
| Barking and Dagenham (Outer London) | 1.26% |
| Kingston upon Thames (Outer London) | 1.12% |
| Wokingham (South East) | 1.12% |
| Isles of Scilly (South West) | 0.19% |
| City of London (Inner London) | 0.18% |
As with the data that was organised by regions, the data relating to local authorities also indicates that there is a north/south divide. Eight of out the ten local authorities with the highest rates of exclusions and suspensions are located in northern regions, while all of the ten local authorities with the lowest exclusion and suspension percentages are located in the south and midlands.
Exclusion and Suspension Data Based on Type of School
The DfE data has also been categorised by the type of school. There are three types of school included, these being:
- Special – Schools that provide education for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) or a disability.
- State-funded primary – Schools funded by their local authority or the government, for children aged between four and ten years old.
- State-funded secondary – Schools funded by their local authority or the government, for children aged between eleven and sixteen.
| Type of School | Total exclusions and pupils with one or more suspension | Percentage of pupils excluded/suspended vs headcount |
| Special | 34,086 | 4.43% |
| State-funded primary | 172,949 | 0.61% |
| State-funded secondary | 993,151 | 4.90% |
The data collected tells us that the state-funded secondary schools saw a much higher percentage of exclusions and suspensions compared to state-funded primary schools. While this may simply confirm the simple fact that challenging behaviours are common amongst teenagers who are going through puberty, it could also indicate that there are ongoing issues in secondary schools that need to be addressed.
Special schools having a comparatively high percentage of exclusions and suspensions is not unexpected given the challenges they are likely to face.
Reasons for Exclusions and Suspensions in England Schools
The DfE data also delves into the reasons for any exclusions or suspensions which took place, which provides further context to the numbers we have already discussed.
The reasons that were considered in the data were:
- Physical abuse to pupils
- Physical abuse to adults
- Verbal abuse to pupils
- Verbal abuse to adults
- Bullying
- Sexual misconduct
- Use of drugs or alcohol
- Racist abuse
- damage
- Theft
- Persistent disruption
- Abuse relating to disability
- Misusing media or technology
- Offensive weaponry
- Public health*
- Abuse relating to sex or gender
- Other**
* Wilful and repeated transgression of protective measures in place to protect public health
** Any other transgressions which fall outside of the reasons listed
It is important to be aware that a single instance of an exclusion or suspension could have more than one reason used.
Top Reasons for Exclusions by School Type
Special School
Excluding ‘other’, the most common reason for exclusions in special schools was the physical abuse of an adult (195 exclusions). This is followed by persistent disruption (114 exclusions) and the physical abuse of a pupil (78 exclusions).
The physical abuse of an adult has been previously reported as being a more common issue among pupils who attend special schools. While Northern Ireland was not included in the data set, a 2023 report from NASUWT, The Teacher’s Union, highlighted that, sadly, there is a general acceptance by some employers in Northern Ireland that being assaulted is ‘part of the job’ for special school teachers.
State-funded primary
The most common reason for exclusion in state-funded primary schools is physical assault against an adult (1,812 exclusions) followed by persistent disruptiveness (1,737 exclusions) and the verbal abuse of an adult (831 exclusions).
Physical assault against an adult being the most common reason for exclusions in primary schools is somewhat surprising given the age of the students. One potential explanation could be the fact that, according to the Educational Policy Institute (EPI), there is no consistent approach to identifying children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), which could be extremely detrimental when it comes to managing their behaviour.
One notable statistic that should also be discussed is the number of exclusions that are the result of sexual misconduct. 63 exclusions were the result of sexual misconduct, which is more than three times higher than the number of exclusions caused by bullying (18 exclusions).
State-funded Secondary
Persistent disruption was the most common reason for exclusion in state-funded secondary schools (11,877 exclusions), followed by physical assault against other pupils (6,078 exclusions) and verbal abuse against adults (3,846 exclusions).
Top Reasons for Exclusions by Region
| Reason | East Midlands | East of England | Inner London | North East | North West | Outer London | South East | South West | West Midlands | Yorkshire and The Humber |
| Physical abuse to pupils | 800 | 880 | 212 | 584 | 1756 | 644 | 892 | 1008 | 1540 | 960 |
| Physical abuse to adults | 520 | 808 | 104 | 384 | 1184 | 236 | 552 | 640 | 1036 | 852 |
| Verbal abuse to adults | 268 | 336 | 108 | 156 | 612 | 184 | 240 | 340 | 404 | 208 |
| Verbal abuse to pupils | 624 | 688 | 96 | 528 | 1308 | 312 | 440 | 664 | 892 | 768 |
| Bullying | 48 | 32 | 28 | 36 | 80 | 40 | 20 | 48 | 76 | 28 |
| Sexual misconduct | 72 | 128 | 52 | 44 | 136 | 104 | 100 | 48 | 112 | 44 |
| Use of drugs or alcohol | 272 | 400 | 88 | 196 | 596 | 292 | 300 | 416 | 616 | 260 |
| Racist abuse | 32 | 32 | 20 | 28 | 64 | 16 | 36 | 52 | 60 | 52 |
| Damage | 136 | 128 | 24 | 120 | 284 | 40 | 124 | 172 | 220 | 204 |
| Theft | 8 | 16 | 28 | 16 | 68 | 4 | 20 | 32 | 36 | 32 |
| Persistent disruption | 1644 | 2248 | 368 | 1812 | 3592 | 920 | 1352 | 2052 | 2768 | 1548 |
| Other | 82 | 96 | 111 | 102 | 192 | 159 | 160 | 120 | 120 | 125 |
| Abuse relating to disability | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Misusing media or technology | 36 | 72 | 24 | 24 | 108 | 80 | 44 | 64 | 88 | 36 |
| Offensive weaponry | 436 | 444 | 220 | 252 | 680 | 556 | 356 | 244 | 748 | 424 |
| Public health | 36 | 56 | 8 | 16 | 96 | 12 | 28 | 24 | 56 | 48 |
| Abuse relating to sex and gender | 8 | 16 | 4 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 20 | 16 | 16 |
North West
The top three reasons for exclusions in the North West were:
- Persistent disruption (3,592 exclusions, 33% of the total)
- Physical assault of pupils (1,756 exclusions, 16% of the total)
- Verbal assault (1,308 exclusions, 12% of the total)
Outer London
The top three reasons for exclusions in Outer London were:
- Persistent disruption (920 exclusions, 25% of the total)
- Physical assault of pupils (644 exclusions, 18% of the total)
- Offensive weaponry (556 exclusions, 15% of the total)
It is notable that offensive weaponry features in the top three reasons for Outer London, as this is one of two regions where this is the case, the other being Inner London. Knife and offensive weapon crimes are commonly reported by the media, with these figures indicating that the issue is also prevalent in school settings.
South East
The top three reasons for exclusions in the South East were:
- Persistent disruption (1,352 exclusions, 29% of the total)
- Physical assault of pupils (892 exclusions, 19% of the total)
- Physical assault of adults (552 exclusions, 12% of the total)
South West
The top three reasons for exclusions in the South West were:
- Persistent disruption (2,052 exclusions, 35% of the total)
- Physical assault of pupils (1,008 exclusions, 17% of the total)
- Verbal assault of adults (664 exclusions, 11% of the total)
West Midlands
The top three reasons for exclusions in the West Midlands were:
- Persistent disruption (2,768 exclusions, 31% of the total)
- Physical assault of pupils (1,540 exclusions, 18% of the total)
- Physical assault of adults (1,036 exclusions, 12% of the total)
Yorkshire and the Humber
The top three reasons for exclusions in Yorkshire and the Humber were:
- Persistent disruption (1,548 exclusions, 28% of the total)
- Physical assault of pupils (960 exclusions, 17% of the total)
- Physical assault of adults (852 exclusions, 15% of the total)
East England
The top three reasons for exclusions in East England were:
- Persistent disruption (2,248 exclusions, 35% of the total)
- Physical assault of pupils (880 exclusions, 14% of the total)
- Physical assault of adults (808 exclusions, 13% of the total)
Inner London
The top three reasons for exclusions in Inner London were:
- Persistent disruption (368 exclusions, 25% of the total)
- Offensive weaponry (220 exclusions, 15% of the total)
- Physical assault of pupils (212 exclusions, 14% of the total)
As mentioned above, the only other region which featured offensive weaponry as one of the most common reasons for exclusions was Outer London.
North East
The top three reasons for exclusions in the North East were:
- Persistent disruption (1,812 exclusions, 42% of the total)
- Physical assault of pupils (584 exclusions, 14% of the total)
- Verbal assault of adults (528 exclusions, 12% of the total)
East Midlands
The top three reasons for exclusions in the East Midlands were:
- Persistent disruption (1,644 exclusions, 33% of the total)
- Physical assault of pupils (800 exclusions, 16% of the total)
- Verbal assault of adults (624 exclusions, 12% of the total)
Top Reasons for Suspensions by School Type
Special Schools
Following the same pattern as exclusions, physical assault of adults was also the most common reason for suspensions in special schools (24,201 suspensions), followed by persistent disruption (20,367 suspensions) and the physical assault of pupils (16,650 suspensions).
State-funded primary schools
The most common reasons for suspensions in state-funded primary schools were different to exclusions. Persistent disruption was the most common reason for suspensions (141,486 suspensions), followed by physical assault of adults (117, 531 suspensions) and physical assault of pupils (88,278 suspensions).
State secondary schools
Persistent disruption was the most common reason for suspension in state-funded secondary schools (1,152,246 suspensions), followed by verbal assault of adults (479,043 suspensions) and physical assault of pupils (421,983 suspensions).
Top Reasons for Suspension by Regions
North West
The top three reasons for suspensions in the North West were:
- Persistent disruption (230,820 suspensions, 39% of the total)
- Verbal assault against adults (106,780 suspensions, 18% of the total)
- Physical assault against pupils (89,784 suspensions, 15% of the total)
East England
The three top reasons for suspensions in East England were:
- Persistent disruption (171,260 suspensions, 37% of the total)
- Physical assault against pupils (79,184 suspensions, 17% of the total)
- Verbal assault against adults (74,800 suspensions, 16% of the total)
Outer London
The top three reasons for suspensions in Outer London were:
- Persistent disruption (79,208 suspensions, 30% of the total)
- Physical assault against pupils (60,256 suspensions, 22% of the total)
- Verbal assault against adults (32,352 suspensions, 12% of the total)
South East
The top three reasons for suspensions in the South East were:
- Persistent disruption (211,808 suspensions, 36% of the total)
- Physical assault against pupils (108,028 suspensions, 18% of the total)
- Verbal assault against adults (102156 suspensions, 17% of the total)
East Midlands
The top three reasons for suspensions in the East Midlands were:
- Persistent disruption (171,324 suspensions, 42% of the total)
- Verbal assault against adults (71,368 suspensions, 18% of the total)
- Physical assault against pupils (60,820 suspensions, 15% of the total)
South West
The top three reasons for suspensions in the South West were:
- Persistent disruption (207,488 suspensions, 43% of the total)
- Verbal assault against adults (87,440 suspensions, 18% of the total)
- Physical assault against pupils (70,112 suspensions, 14% of the total)
West Midlands
The top three reasons for suspensions in the West Midlands were:
- Persistent disruption (169,780 suspensions, 37% of the total)
- Physical assault against pupils (86,908 suspensions, 19% of the total)
- Verbal assault against adults (77,504 suspensions, 17% of the total)
Yorkshire and the Humber
The top three reasons for suspensions in Yorkshire and the Humber were:
- Persistent disruption (287,844 suspensions, 47% of the total)
- Verbal assault against adults (108,260 suspensions, 18% of the total)
- Physical assault against pupils (78,956 suspensions, 13% of the total)
Inner London
The top three reasons for suspensions in Inner London were:
- Persistent disruption (51,368 suspensions, 32% of the total)
- Physical assault against pupils (35,188, 22% of the total)
- Verbal assault against adults (18,152, 11% of the total)
North East
The top three reasons for suspensions the North East were:
- Persistent disruption (171,232 suspensions, 54% of the total)
- Verbal assault against adults (54,700 suspensions, 17% of the total)
- Physical assault against pupils (33,312 suspensions, 11% of the total)
A Closer Look at Exclusions and Suspensions in South East England
In South East England, the total headcount for the academic years 2016/17 through to 2021/22 was 7,712,455. With this in mind, the headline figures regarding exclusions and suspension are:
- 3,527 exclusions took place
- 165,354 pupil enrolments with one or more suspension
- 2% of the total South East pupil headcount were excluded and/or suspended
These figures tell us that the South East had lower percentage rates of both exclusions and suspensions compared to the national average. The most common reasons for suspensions were persistent disruption, physical abuse of pupils and verbal abuse of adults. Similar reasons applied to the reasons for exclusions, with the addition of physical abuse of adults.
In the South East region, Buckinghamshire, Slough and Wokingham had the lowest figures for exclusions and suspensions. Meanwhile, the Isle of Wight, East Sussex and Southampton have the highest percentage rates in the region.
| Local Authority | Total exclusions and pupils with one or more suspension | Percentage of pupils excluded/suspended vs headcount | |
| 1 | Isle of Wight | 5764 | 6% |
| 2 | East Sussex | 22938 | 6% |
| 3 | Southampton | 10234 | 5% |
| 4 | Medway | 14140 | 5% |
| 5 | Milton Keynes | 14194 | 5% |
| 6 | Portsmouth | 7716 | 5% |
| 7 | West Berkshire | 7284 | 5% |
| 8 | Oxfordshire | 25924 | 5% |
| 9 | Hampshire | 44436 | 4% |
| 10 | West Sussex | 28138 | 4% |
| 11 | Bracknell Forest | 4410 | 4% |
| 12 | Reading | 5394 | 4% |
| 13 | Brighton and Hove | 7218 | 4% |
| 14 | Kent | 48296 | 3% |
| 15 | Surrey | 30808 | 3% |
| 16 | Windsor and Maidenhead | 4212 | 3% |
| 17 | Buckinghamshire | 14952 | 3% |
| 18 | Slough | 4724 | 3% |
| 19 | Wokingham | 2034 | 1% |
Interestingly, there has been a recent rise in the number of pupils who have been excluded or suspended in the South East. While the percentage of pupils who had been excluded or suspended consistently sat at 2%, this figure rose to 3% in 2021/22, highlighting the potential impact that the Covid-19 pandemic had on students.
Support for Parents on School Behaviour and Exclusion
Understanding what to do next if your child has been excluded or suspended can be incredibly challenging.
It is important to realise that there are legal options available to parents who believe that their child has been wrongfully excluded or suspended from school, or has been subject to discrimination. If you feel that an exclusion has been imposed unfairly, you may be able to make an able to appeal to the school’s governing body.
Appealing against a permanent exclusion is first made to the governing body and thereafter to an Independent Review Panel (IRP).
This is something our specialist education solicitors will be able to advise you on, in detail. Our team at IBB Law are highly specialised in dealing with exclusions from schools. We represent parents, to appeal school exclusions for a range of reasons, so you can be confident we have the knowledge and experience to provide the best advice. The relationship between suspensions, exclusions and special educational needs (SEN) should not be overlooked. Our experience is that SEN is a factor in some suspensions and exclusions.
Speak to Our Education Solicitors
To speak to our specialist education solicitors about your situation, or to discuss the findings of the DfE study, please contact Celia Whittuck on 01895 207230 or email educationteam@ibblaw.co.uk.
Data Sources and Methodology
The publication for the independent data source can be found via the links above.
The data presented in this article has been sourced from the Department for Education. The figures used in this article are accurate as per January 2024.
When discussing the number of exclusions and suspensions, we are referring to occasions of exclusion plus the pupil enrolments with one or more suspension. This discounts any occasion where a student was suspended more than once.
When we’re discussing the reasons for exclusion or suspension, we’re considering every incident including students who may have been suspended multiple times.
Although this data was sourced via reputable sources, its interpretations are of the IBB Law researchers.
