The Violent Crime Prevention Board are working tirelessly to keep children in school as this is the place where they are at their safest.  We work with school leaders, parents and children to ensure they are included in all aspects of their learning. 

In 2019, the then Education Secretary, Damon Hinds, called for headteachers to exclude fewer children. The Timpson Report (2019) found that 78% of excluded pupils either had special educational needs or were eligible for free school meals, which translates in children from low socia-economic homes. It also identified that black boys were 1.7 times more likely to be permanently excluded than white boys. Although these figures are stark and show a clear disparity between the exclusion of black boys, children with special educational needs, and boys suffering from emotional and mental health difficulties, excluding children from education is not a decision headteachers take lightly.

Recently in the press, and within reports from a number of academics, correlation between school exclusions and child criminal exploitation is being drawn, with schools being blamed for this. I think it is only fair that I articulate the stringent legal legislation around excluding a child from school in the United Kingdom.

The top reasons why children are being excluded from school are:

• persistent disruptive behaviour (behaviour that is in breach of the school’s behaviour policy) a physical assault against an adult
• a physical assault against a pupil
• verbal abuse or threatening behaviour against an adult
• verbal abuse or threatening behaviour against a pupil
• damage to school property
• and bullying.

More recently, children bringing weapons or drugs to school has become a reason for permanent exclusion. Headteachers can exclude your child if they are misbehaving in or outside of school.