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This document contains analysis of the exclusions data for 2007/08. Information relates to local authority schools only. Exclusions include both temporary exclusions and pupils removed from the register.

Nearly all of this publication refers to cases of exclusion, which must not be confused with the number of pupils excluded, as some pupils were excluded more than once during the year.

The main findings are:

• During 2007/08 there were 39,717 exclusions from local authority schools in Scotland, a decrease of 11 per cent from 2006/07. The number of exclusions had been rising each year since 2002/03. About 20,600 different pupils (three per cent of pupils) were excluded during the year.
• Overall, male pupils accounted for 79 per cent of exclusions, an increase of 1 per cent from 2006/07. The percentage has been stable at around 78 to 79 per cent since 2003/04.
• There were 5,616 exclusions from local authority primary schools, 14 per cent of the total, and equivalent to 15 exclusions per 1,000 pupils. The number is a seven per cent decrease from 6,018 exclusions in 2006/07.
• There were 32,905 exclusions from local authority secondary schools, 83 per cent of the total, and equivalent to 106 exclusions per 1,000 pupils. Exclusion rates peaked during S3, with 185 exclusions per 1,000 pupils. The number of exclusions in secondary has decreased by 12 per cent from 37,566 exclusions in 2006/07.
• There were 1,196 exclusions from local authority special schools, three per cent of the total, and equivalent to 187 exclusions per 1,000 pupils.
• As in previous years exclusion rates were highest either side of half term during the Christmas to Easter period. This year the first week of March had the highest number of exclusions.
• Ninety two per cent of all temporary exclusions lasted one week or less. The average length was three days.
• Of the 20,505 pupils temporarily excluded, 60 per cent were excluded on one occasion only during the year and 19 per cent were excluded twice during the year.
• Over 99 per cent of all exclusions were temporary. In 164 cases, pupils were removed from the register of the school, a decrease of 34 per cent from the 2006/07 figure of 248. Local authorities may also reach agreements with parents to move a pupil to another school without the use of a formal 'removal from register', but where the pupil is unlikely to have the option of staying in the school.
• Pupils from minority ethnic groups generally had a lower exclusion rate than white- UK pupils, but with rates varying widely across the different ethnic groups ¹. Black Caribbean pupils had the highest rates of exclusion, with Asian-Chinese the lowest.
• Pupils with English as an additional language had considerably lower rates of exclusion than other pupils, with an exclusion rate of about half of that amongst other pupils.
• Where pupils have been assessed or declared as having a disability, the rate of exclusion was considerably higher than amongst other pupils.
• Pupils with an Additional Support Need ( ASN) in mainstream schools have a higher rate of exclusion than those in mainstream schools without ASN. Pupils in special schools have a higher rate of exclusion than those with an ASN in primary schools but a lower rate than those with an ASN in secondary schools. Pupils with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties had the highest rates of exclusion.
• Reasons for exclusion showed that 33 per cent of exclusions involved general or persistent disobedience; 26 per cent involved verbal abuse of members of staff; and 17 per cent involved insolent or offensive behaviour.
• Overall, there were 57 exclusions per 1,000 pupils from local authority primary, secondary, and special schools in Scotland in 2007/08. This ranged between local authorities from 112 to 10 cases of exclusion per 1,000 pupils.

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