More Powys pupils excluded in last two years

Figures from a freedom of information request to Powys County Council have revealed over 1,000 pupils have been made subject to fixed term exclusions from primary and secondary schools.

In 2015/16 there were a total of 487 fixed term exclusions across all schools. That figure rose in the last year by nine per cent to 533 in total.

Of those, 11 were permanent exclusions in 2015/16 and 15 were permanent in the last year. In 2015/16 the majority of permanent exclusions were for disruptive behaviour.

Of the fixed term exclusions, 34 per cent were for disruptive behaviour, and there were 72 cases for physical assault on a pupil.

Pupils were excluded 41 times for physically assaulting an adult, and five times for racial harassment. There were also four fixed term exclusions for sexual harassment.

Councillor Myfanwy Alexander said: “Every school must have a behaviour policy.

“Headteachers are responsible for determining measures to secure good behaviour and governors have powers to draw up general principles and provide guidance for headteachers on disciplinary matters.

“The head is responsible for dealing with individual disciplinary cases.

“During 2016/17 there were 15 permanent exclusions in the county compared to 11 in 2015/16 and there were 533 fixed term exclusions in 2016/17 compared to 487 in the previous year.

“The permanent exclusion rate for the county is 0.5 per 1,000 pupils.”

Both permanent and fixed term exclusions rose in 2016/17, again with disruptive behaviour the most common reason for exclusions.

Of the fixed term exclusions, sexual harassment was down to three for the year and racial harassment was down to two.

Physical assault of another pupil was up to 107, making up 20 per cent of the total, with physical assault on adults also up to 86, making up 16 per cent.

Substance misuse was also slightly up, to 23 cases out of 533. Other reasons for exclusions included theft, bullying and damage to property.

Councillor Alexander added: “Although the authority expects schools to make every effort to retain learners within mainstream schools, we acknowledge that cases do arise when, for the well-being of the young person and his or her peers, an exclusion is the correct outcome of the process.”