Statement from Minister in response to the
Department for Education's suspensions and permanent
exclusions statistics in England for the academic year
2022/23.
Department for Education Minister said:
“These shocking figures are a wake-up call about the problems
that have grown in our schools in recent years. They put into
sharp focus that too many pupils are being held back by their
background and that our education system is failing to meet the
needs of children with additional needs.
“Every pupil deserves to learn in a safe, calm classroom and we
will always support our hard-working and dedicated teachers to
make this happen.
“We are determined to get to grips with the causes of exclusions:
we've already committed to providing access to specialist mental
health professionals in every secondary school, introducing free
breakfast clubs in every primary school, and ensuring earlier
intervention in mainstream schools for pupils with special needs.
“But we know poor behaviour can also be rooted in wider issues,
which is why the Government is developing an ambitious strategy
to reduce child poverty led by a taskforce co-chaired by the
Education Secretary so that we can break down the barriers to
opportunity.”
Background
- The Prime Minister yesterday (Weds
17th July) appointed the Work & Pensions Secretary
and the Education Secretary as the joint leads of the Child
Poverty Unit in the Cabinet Office, a new ministerial taskforce,
to begin work on the Child Poverty Strategy. The new unit will
explore how we can use all the available levers we have across
government to create an ambitious strategy:Ministerial taskforce
launched to kickstart work on child poverty strategy - GOV.UK
(www.gov.uk)
- All schools are required by law to
have a policy in place to encourage good behaviour and we have
published guidance to support school leaders and staff including
‘Behaviour in
Schools'2024; ‘Suspension and Permanent
Exclusion' 2023 and ‘Searching, Screening and
Confiscation'2023.
- Since 2021, the Behaviour Hubs
programme has offered support to schools that want to improve
pupil behaviour and create calm, safe and supportive
environments. It is flexible, with an offer of support tailored
to schools' circumstances.
- The Suspension and Permanent
Exclusion guidance makes clear that all decisions to exclude a
pupil must be lawful, reasonable, and fair.
- Schools can use sanctions as a
measure to improve behaviour and in the most serious cases,
suspensions and permanent exclusion may be necessary to ensure
that pupils are protected from disruption and to maintain safe
environments.
- We have appointed Sir Kevan Collins
to our Board, who brings a wealth of experience in tackling
barriers to education and will advise on driving high and rising
standards: Sir Kevan Collins
appointed at DfE as Non-Executive Board Member - GOV.UK
(www.gov.uk)
- This process has already begun,
with the Department's restructure so that SEND and Alternative
Provision policy will come under the responsibility of the
Schools Group:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sir-kevan-collins-appointed-at-dfe-as-non-executive-board-member
