Suspension rate definition
Suspensions, also 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 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 number and rate of suspensions has increased since the previous autumn term
There were 346,300 suspensions in autumn term 2023/24, an increase of 40% compared to autumn term 2022/23 when there were 247,400 suspensions. The suspension rate also increased, from 2.96 in autumn term 2022/23 to 4.13 in autumn term 2023/24. This continues the increasing trend in suspensions.
Prior to the pandemic, the number and rate of suspensions had a generally upward trend, primarily driven by increases in secondary schools. This has continued following the low rates seen during parts of the pandemic, and the latest term saw another increase in rates across each school phase.
The increase in suspensions was present across all school types
Compared to the previous autumn term, suspensions:
- increased in primary schools by 41%, from 26,800 to 37,700
- increased in secondary schools by 40%, from 214,100 to 300,300
- increased in special schools by 27%, from 6,500 to 8,300
Suspension rates (per 100 pupils) also increased across all phases:
- in primary schools from 0.58 to 0.83
- in secondary schools from 5.90 to 8.19
- in special schools from 4.31 to 5.22
There are more pupils being suspended, and more frequently
‘Pupils with one or more suspensions’ refer to pupil enrolments that had at least one suspension across the full academic year. Dual registered pupils with suspensions in multiple schools have each of their enrolments considered separately. This allows for schools to be held accountable for suspensions, as the suspensions are attached to enrolments at a particular school, not the individual pupil.
The number of pupils suspended at least once has increased by 28%, from 134,500 (1.61 per 100 pupils) in autumn term 2022/23 to 171,800 (2.05 per 100 pupils) in autumn term 2023/24.
Since autumn term 2021/22, the number of pupils who are suspended multiple times has been increasing. In the latest autumn term, among the pupils who were suspended: 59% were suspended once, 32% were suspended 2 to 4 times, and 9% were suspended 5 or more times within the term.
The total number of days pupils are suspended for is increasing
In autumn term 2023/24, 46% of suspensions were for one day or less. However, looking at the cumulative days missed over the term, 35,800 pupils who were suspended missed more than one school week (5 days), and 12,600 missed more than two school weeks (10 days). Compared to the previous autumn term, this represents an increase of 11,300 and 4,700 pupils, respectively.
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 408,900 reasons given for the 346,300 suspensions in autumn term 2023/24 .
The most common reason recorded for suspension was persistent disruptive behaviour, there were 204,800 instances where this reason for suspension was recorded, 50% of all reasons given. This was followed by verbal abuse or threatening behaviour against an adult, with 64,400 instances (16%) of this reason and physical assault against a pupil in 53,800 instances (13%).