The latest study conducted by the Department of Education suggests that the student exclusions in England have grown at an alarming pace since last ten years.
The startling figures indicate a worrying trend with over seven thousand nine hundred cases of permanent dismissals from school this year – a three percent (3%) rise from last year. To put it simply, that amounts to nearly forty-two children being removed every day.
The statistics suggest that this is the highest number of expulsions the country has witnessed since the school term of 2008-2009.
According to the union of headteachers, a possible reason behind the exclusions could be insufficient funding to schools with early education and special needs. This makes the task of dealing with students with difficult behavioral traits more demanding.
What do the statistics show?
What is more unnerving is the fact the statistical figures imply a rise in assaults and intimidation against adults. With close to thirteen percent (13%) increase in physical attacks on adults along with drug and alcohol-related issues and twenty-eight percent (28%) in bullying, it is evident that the schools in England need to tighten the leash on student crimes.
While a student’s challenging behavior remains to be one of the pressing issues that require addressal, the report also demonstrates a spike in temporary expulsions that have risen by eight percent (8%) from the academic year 2016-17 to 2017-18.
The critical standpoints
Geoff Barton, who is a general secretary at the Association of School and College Leaders asserts that there is a greater need for early identification of challenging behavioral issues and putting a stop to them before they elevate. He further added that the expulsion decisions impact the school as well as the students. In the end, all that matters is putting the best interests of the students and the staff first.
Barton calls for government’s attention towards increased funding to offer better backing to susceptible students and their families.
Meanwhile, the general secretary of school teachers’ union, Paul Whiteman has pointed out the critical need for increased investments in social and health care services. He insists that these services are the primary go-to options for parents who suspect troubling behaviors in their children.
In response to the recent findings, a spokesperson from the UK’s Department of Education declared that the government is doing everything it can to ensure that a student excluded from school is not excluded from getting education altogether and all attempts will be made to bring the permanent exclusion rates to the lowest possible level.
