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Government data released on Thursday reveals a decline in school suspensions and exclusions in England for the first time since the onset of the pandemic. During the 2024/25 academic year, there were 913,000 suspensions reported across state schools, marking a 4% decrease compared to the previous year. Concurrently, permanent exclusions fell by 9%, totaling 9,900.
This reduction in suspension rates was observed mainly in secondary and special schools, although primary schools saw an increase. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson acknowledged the lingering negative effects of the pandemic on student behavior but expressed optimism, stating that teachers nationwide are helping to “turn a corner.” She emphasized, “After years of spiralling suspensions and permanent exclusions, there are clear signs that the combined efforts of schools, parents and the government are working – and we are determined to keep driving forward that progress to fix the behaviour crisis we inherited.”
Prior to these latest statistics, exclusion and suspension rates had been rising steadily since before the pandemic. Indeed, last year saw suspensions reach their highest levels in nearly two decades. Despite the recent decrease, current figures remain above those recorded in 2018/19. Suspensions involve pupils being temporarily removed from school for up to 45 days per academic year, whereas permanent exclusions result in a pupil being removed indefinitely. Nearly half of suspensions last for one day or less, though over 94,000 students missed more than a week due to suspensions in the past year.
When schools issue suspensions or exclusions, they can cite up to three reasons per case. Persistent disruptive behavior remains the most cited cause, accounting for just over half of the reasons given for suspensions and 40% of exclusions. Other frequent triggers include verbal abuse or threatening behavior toward adults and physical assault on other pupils. Secondary school attendees make up the majority (85%) of those suspended. Conversely, suspension rates in primary schools rose, with 112,545 suspensions reported, an increase of 7,742 from the previous year.
Students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) continue to experience disproportionately high suspension and exclusion rates. Almost nine out of ten permanent exclusions in primary schools involve pupils with SEND. Additionally, pupils eligible for free school meals face a suspension rate four times higher than their peers who do not qualify. Boys are suspended at a rate 1.5 times higher than girls.
Research conducted by the charity Impetus highlights the potential long-term consequences of suspensions, indicating that young people suspended during secondary school are twice as likely to be not in education, employment, or training (NEET) by age 24 compared to their classmates. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), welcomed the overall decline in suspensions but stressed that schools alone cannot tackle the issue. He urged a “sustained effort” to address underlying causes of poor behavior, which often stem from external challenges such as poverty and mental health problems. He also called for increased funding for social care and mental health services to support pupils beyond the classroom.
Cara Cinnamon, chief impact officer at Mission 44—a charity founded by racing driver Lewis Hamilton aimed at reducing isolation and exclusions—highlighted that permanent exclusion is meant to be a last resort but noted that this is not always the case in practice
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