This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Exclusions from schools 2000-2001
20/02/2002
Figures published today showing a small decrease in overall
exclusions from schools and a bigger fall in permanent
exclusions.
The main findings of the third annual survey on exclusions
from schools, a National Statistics publication, are:
- During 2000-2001 there were 38,656 exclusions from
Local Authority primary, secondary and special schools in
Scotland, a decrease of 0.3 per cent from the 1999-2000
figure of 38,769. Eighty six per cent were from secondary
schools, 12 per cent were from primary schools, and 3 per
cent were from special schools. (Tables 1, 2a, 2b and
2c)
- Over 99 per cent of all exclusions were temporary. In
only 322 cases were pupils removed from the register of the
school, a decrease of 11 per cent from the 1999-2000 figure
of 360. (Table 1)
- Overall, male pupils accounted for around 81 per cent
of all exclusions. By sector, male pupils accounted for
around 93 per cent of all exclusions from primary schools,
79 per cent from secondary schools, and 89 per cent from
special schools. (Tables 2a, 2b and 2c)
- Nearly half of all temporary exclusions, with a known
duration, were for either 6 half-days (30 per cent) or 4
half-days (19 per cent) duration. A further 27 per cent
were for 10 half-days duration or more. (Table 3)
- During 2000-2001, 21,598 pupils were temporarily
excluded from school. Sixty per cent of these pupils were
excluded on one occasion only. 19 per cent were temporarily
excluded twice, and 9 per cent were temporarily excluded
three times. Six per cent of all pupils temporarily
excluded were excluded 5 times or more. (Table 4)
- Of all exclusions with known circumstances, 24 per cent
were for general or persistent disobedience; 17 per cent
involved verbal abuse of members of staff; and 13 per cent
involved physical abuse of fellow pupils. (Table 6)
- Of all exclusions: 45 per cent involved children
entitled to free school meals; 4 per cent involved children
with a Record of Needs and 4 per cent involved children
looked after by the Local Authority. Comparison with the
overall school population shows that pupils entitled to
free school meals, or with a Record of Needs, or looked
after by the Local Authority, had higher exclusion rates
than other pupils. (Table 7)
- Overall, there were 51 exclusions per 1,000 pupils from
Local Authority primary, secondary, and special schools in
Scotland in 2000-2001. The highest exclusion rates were in
West Dunbartonshire (117 per 1,000), Renfrewshire (103 per
1,000) and Glasgow (96 per 1,000). (Table 8)
Speaking about the results of the third annual survey on
exclusions from schools, Deputy Education Minister Nicol
Stephen said:
"I welcome the decrease in exclusions, although I recognise
that more needs to be done to support teachers Exclusion
remains an important sanction but it is important to invest in
alternatives for the benefit of teachers and pupils.
"It is particularly welcome that 99% of all exclusions were
temporary and more young people are now staying within the
education system.
"In only 322 cases were pupils permanently excluded from a
school, a decrease of 11% from the previous year. This is good
news and reflects the commitment of the Scottish Executive and
local authorities to initiatives focused on improving behaviour
and discipline in Scotland's schools.
"We recognise that there are times when disruptive pupils
have to be removed from the classroom to protect the education
of the majority.
"But we also want to provide alternatives to ensure that
children removed from mainstream classrooms can remain in the
school system. That's why, as part of the Discipline Task Group
Action Plan, we announced that £10m would be available to local
authorities to further develop pupil support bases in schools.
These bases offer support and counselling involving a range of
services for pupils with behavioural difficulties.
"Encouraging pupils to make a useful contribution to their
school is a key element to reducing exclusions. Working in
partnership with local authorities, we will continue to put the
promotion of positive behaviour and a reduction in exclusions
at the centre of our priorities."
This is the third year that this 'Exclusions from Schools'
survey has been run. Returns were received from all Local
Authorities. However, some authorities did not provide complete
information on the number of exclusions by ethnic background,
duration, or circumstance of the exclusions within their
schools. Some authorities were also not able to provide
information on the number of times that pupils were excluded.
Therefore, the results for these four categories have been
expressed as a percentage of known information.
Discipline Action Plan: The Joint Action Plan to take
forward the recommendations from the report of the Discipline
Task Group (DTG) 'Better Behaviour - Better Learning', was
launched by the Minister for Education and Young People on 12
December 2001. COSLA, ADES (Association of Directors of
Education in Scotland) and ADSW (Association of Directors of
Social Work) were co-signatories of the report. The Scottish
Executive is immediately making available funds to Local
Authorities to assist them in their initial policy review and
planning (£3 million) and also the development of pupil support
bases where needed (£10 million).
Alternatives to Exclusion programme: The Scottish Executive
has invested £23m through the Excellence Fund to this
programme. Projects being supported include in and out of
school support units, programmes of personal and social
development, enhanced staffing in schools and in support of
schools, vocational schemes involving work placements,
behaviour support systems and outreach services.
Other Scottish Executive initiatives to improve discipline
in schools include: Support for Parents, Study Support, New
Community Schools, Education Action Plans.