This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Minister comments on exclusion stats
30/01/2007
Figures published today show that there were 42,990 exclusions from local authority schools in 2005-06, an increase of two per cent from 2004-05.
The latest school exclusion statistics for 2005-06 show that around 22,500 different pupils (three per cent of pupils) were excluded during the year.
Commenting on the figures, Education Minister Hugh Henry said:
"Excluding a pupil is always a last resort and never a decision a headteacher takes lightly. However, it's right that they have recourse to this ultimate sanction when they feel it is necessary.
"Pupils may be excluded for a range of reasons, including violent behaviour - but just three per cent of pupils were excluded in the past year. Violence is always unacceptable but it's important to keep this in perspective. Our schools are not battlegrounds and the vast majority of pupils are well-behaved.
"We're committed to improving discipline in Scottish schools and that's why we're continuing to work closely with the teaching unions and councils to promote positive and tackle negative behaviour and supporting headteachers and schools to do this.
"Whole school communities promote positive behaviour, challenge serious indiscipline and support pupils to be respectful and responsible. To do this, they use a range of approaches from school support bases to proactive, preventative initiatives like restorative practice, solution orientated schools and motivated schools - all of which are supported by the Executive."