Suspension rate definition
Suspensions, previously known as 'fixed period exclusions', refers to when a pupil is excluded from a school for a set period of time. A suspension can involve a part of the school day and it does not have to be for a continuous period. A pupil may be suspended for one or more periods up to a maximum of 45 school days in a single academic year. This total includes suspensions from previous schools covered by the exclusion legislation.
The suspension rate is calculated as the total number of suspensions, divided by the total number of pupils (x100).
Note on data coverage over the pandemic
While suspensions and permanent exclusions were possible throughout the 2019/20 and 2020/21 academic years, national restrictions will have had an impact on the numbers presented and caution should be taken when comparing across years.
The disciplinary powers that schools currently have, including suspension and permanent exclusion, remained in place throughout the COVID-19 outbreak. The statutory guidance on the suspension and permanent exclusion of pupils from local-authority-maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units is clear all decision must be lawful, rational, reasonable, fair and proportionate. Permanent exclusion should only be used as a last resort.
The number and rate of suspensions has increased
There were 263,900 suspensions in spring term 2022/23. This continues the increasing trend in suspensions prior to the pandemic (that is, up to autumn 2019/20) and is an increase of 31% from spring 2021/22. Suspensions are typically higher in autumn term than in spring and summer so spring 2022/23 is a change from that trend, with an increase of 7% from autumn term 2022/23 and the highest number of termly suspensions in the time series.
National restrictions affected 2020/21, in particular in the spring term when attendance was prioritised for key worker and vulnerable children. There were also restrictions in 2019/20 affecting the spring term and summer term. The table below shows the impact of national restrictions and school closures, in particular the 2019/20 summer term and also the 2020/21 spring term where the number of suspensions decreased heavily.
The increase from the previous term is driven by secondary schools
Prior to the pandemic, the number and rate of suspensions had been increasing gradually, in the main driven by increases in secondary schools. This has continued after the low rates seen during the pandemic, and the latest term saw another overall increase driven by secondary schools. Compared to the autumn term 2022/23, suspensions:
- increased for secondary pupils (+9%, from 214,100 to 232,600)
- decreased for primary pupils (-3%, from 26,800 to 25,900)
- decreased for special school pupils (-18%, from 6,500 to 5,300)
Most suspensions are for a single day
47% of suspensions in the spring term were for one day, and 99% of suspensions were for five days or less.
Prior to 2020/21, a single reason could be recorded for each suspension and permanent exclusion. From 2020/21, up to three reasons could be recorded. These reasons were recorded without weighting or prioritisation. As such, the sum of the number of reasons will not match the total number of suspensions or permanent exclusions from 2020/21.
Further, the following new reasons for suspensions and permanent exclusions were added from 2020/21
- Use or threat of use of an offensive weapon or prohibited item
- Abuse against sexual orientation and gender identity
- Abuse relating to disability
- Inappropriate use of social media or online technology
- Wilful and repeated transgression of protective measures in place to protect public health
As multiple reasons could be recorded, the table below and underlying data refer to a total of 309,700 reasons given for suspension in spring 2022/23, this relates to the reasons given for the 263,900 suspensions that occurred overall.
The most common reason recorded for suspension was persistent disruptive behaviour, there were 150,300 instances where this reason for suspension was recorded, 57% of all suspensions. This was followed by verbal abuse or threatening behaviour against an adult, with 49,400 suspensions (19%) including this reason.