Number of expelled Shropshire pupils rises by a third
The number of children being permanently excluded from Shropshire's schools has risen by a third in two years.
Across the county, 60 pupils were excluded from the classroom in the last school year. The action was taken for behaviour including physical assault against pupils and teachers, verbal abuse, drug and alcohol issues and persistent disruptive behaviour.
That figure is a 33 per cent rise on the 45 children expelled from schools in both Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin council areas in 2014. In Telford, exclusions rocketed by 72 per cent from 11 in 2013/14 to 19 in 2015/16. In Shropshire it has risen from 34 to 41.
Today's figures, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, come as school leaders raised increasing concerns about the behaviour of children.
But as schools expel more children, senior councillors say they believe no children should be permanently excluded.
Councillor Gilly Reynolds, cabinet member for education at Telford and Wrekin Council, said all schools and academies sign up to a Fair Access Protocol, which recommends action to avoid exclusions.
She said: "In Telford & Wrekin it is our intention to work towards zero permanent exclusions. We therefore work closely with all schools and academies to aim to achieve this.
"Historically, Telford & Wrekin has maintained a permanent exclusion rate well below national and regional averages, with 0.03 per cent of pupils in Telford & Wrekin permanently excluded compared to 0.06 per cent nationally and 0.09 per cent across the West Midlands.
"In 2016 there have been more students permanently excluded than the previous year for a variety of reasons, not least changes in leadership in several larger schools.
"We have been working with these schools to develop approaches to managing behaviour and therefore expect a downturn in permanent exclusions moving forward."
Karen Bradshaw, Shropshire Council's director of children's services, said: "Shropshire Council works closely with schools to address any issues around challenging pupil behaviour and the number of permanent exclusions is in line with regional and national averages in England.
"The increase in permanent exclusions follows a trend seen across England since 2013. However, even with the slight increase seen in 2015-16, permanent exclusions relate to just 0.01 per cent of pupil enrolments in Shropshire."
Chris Keates, general secretary of the teachers' union NASUWT, says disruptive behaviour is a growing concern in classrooms, adding: "All pupils are entitled to learn in an environment free from violence and disruption.
"A minority of pupils cannot be allowed to disrupt the majority but those pupils engaged in the disruption also need to have the needs they clearly have assessed and addressed. The ability to exclude permanently is an important sanction and deterrent. Staff and pupils have a right to expect a safe environment and that there are measures in place to protect their wellbeing."
