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Kirklees Permanent Exclusions from September 2020

Good discipline in schools is essential to ensure that all pupils can benefit from the opportunities provided by education. The Government supports Head Teachers in using exclusion as a sanction where it is warranted. However, the decision to permanently exclude a child from school should only be taken in response to a serious breach or persistent breaches of the school’s behaviour policy; and where allowing the child to remain in school would seriously harm the education or welfare of the pupil or others in the School. The decision to exclude must be lawful, reasonable and fair. Schools have a statutory duty not to discriminate against pupils on the basis of protected characteristics, such as disability or race.

School Exclusion Risks After COVID-19

This report looks at potential new and heightened risks for school exclusions caused by the recent Covid-19 pandemic. Exclusions have risen sharply in England in the last few years. Over-represented groups include children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), from particular ethnic backgrounds and those living in areas of high deprivation. We know the impact of Covid-19 on schools is substantial for practitioners and students. The social and emotional disruption caused by the pandemic and the subsequent school closures is highly likely to have increased or exacerbated student anxiety and other mental health issues. There is also a concern with school connectedness for vulnerable students whose patterns of school attendance have been disrupted. These concerns raise issues around transitions back to school settings.