Suspensions, previously known as 'fixed period exclusions', refer 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 (multiplied by 100).
Total suspensions have decreased, driven by decreases in secondary schools
The rate of suspensions decreased from 4.13 in autumn term 2023/24 to 4.02 in autumn 2024/25. The number of suspensions has also decreased by 3%, from 346,300 in autumn 2023/24 to 335,700 in autumn term 2024/25.
Prior to the pandemic, the rate and number of suspensions had been increasing gradually, primarily driven by increases in secondary schools. Since the pandemic, the rate of annual increases has accelerated but the latest term saw an overall decrease in suspensions, driven by decreases in secondary schools.
The suspension rate varied by school type
Compared to the previous autumn term, the suspension rate:
- increased in primary schools to 0.89 from 0.83 (with the number of suspensions increasing by 6%)
- decreased in secondary schools to 7.81 from 8.19 (with the number of suspensions decreasing by 4%)
- decreased in special schools to 5.07 from 5.22 (but the number of suspensions increased by 2%).
Persistent disruptive behaviour continued to be the most common reason for suspension
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.
As multiple reasons could be recorded, the table below and underlying data refer to a total of 396,900 reasons given for the 335,700 suspensions in autumn term 2024/25.
The most common reason recorded for suspension was persistent disruptive behaviour, accounting for 51% (203,100) of all reasons given. This was followed by verbal abuse or threatening behaviour against an adult with 15% (59,700) and physical assault against a pupil with 13% (49,800 instances) of all reasons given.
Number of pupils suspended at least once decreased
‘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 rate of pupils suspended at least once decreased to 1.98 in autumn term 2024/25, from 2.05 in autumn term 2023/24. This is equivalent to a 4% decrease in the number of pupils suspended at least once, from 171,800 to 165,600.
Most suspensions are for one day
In autumn term 2024/25, 46% of suspensions were for one day or less, this is consistent with the proportion of one day suspensions in autumn 2023/24. However, looking at the cumulative days missed over the term, 34,100 pupils who were suspended (21%) missed the equivalent of more than one school week (5 days), and 11,900 (7%) missed more than two school weeks (10 days). Compared to the previous autumn term, this represents a decrease of 1,600 and 700 pupils, respectively.