Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Autumn term 2023/24 (2024)

Autumn term 2023/24

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Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Autumn term 2023/24 (1)

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  1. Clarifying instances of 'exclusion' as 'permanent exclusion' in wording.

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This publication presents statistics on suspensions and permanent exclusions across state-funded schools.

The publication includes data for autumn term 2023/24 on:

  • reasons schools report for suspending and permanently excluding pupils
  • suspensions and permanent exclusions by pupil characteristics

The data has been collected in the school census. Data for earlier terms and years is also included.

Data covering the full 2022/23 academic year is available within the Academic year 2022/23 publication.

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Releases in this series

View releases (19) for Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England

Methodologies

  • Pupil exclusion statistics: methodology

Headline facts and figures - 2023/24

Explore data and files used in this release

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  • Data catalogue

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  • Download all data (ZIP)

    Download all data available in this release as a compressed ZIP file

Suspensions

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%).

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Permanent exclusions

Permanent exclusion rate definition

A permanent exclusion refers to a pupil who is excluded and who will not come back to that school (unless the exclusion is overturned). This data only includes permanent exclusions which have been upheld by the governing body or Independent Review Panel (IRP), and not those which are still ongoing.

The permanent exclusion rate is calculated as the number of permanent exclusions divided by the number of pupils (x100). A rate of 0.01 would be equivalent to 1 permanent exclusion for every 10,000 pupils.

Permanent exclusions have increased compared to the previous autumn term

There were 4,200 permanent exclusions in autumn term 2023/24, representing an increase of 34% compared to the previous autumn term when there were 3,100 permanent exclusions.

The rate of permanent exclusions was 0.05, equivalent to 5 permanent exclusions for every 10,000 pupils. This increased from 0.04 in the previous autumn term.

The rate of permanent exclusions varied by school type

The number of permanent exclusions was highest in secondary schools at 3,600, accounting for 87% of all permanent exclusions in autumn term 2023/24.

Compared to the previous autumn term, permanent exclusions:

  • increased in primary schools by 35%, from 378 to 511
  • increased in secondary schools by 35%, from 2,679 to 3,608
  • increased in special schools by 4%, from 47 to 49.

Permanent exclusion rates increased in secondary schools from 0.07 to 0.10, equivalent to 10 permanent exclusions for every 10,000 pupils. For primary and special schools the rates remained the same as the previous autumn term, 0.01 and 0.03 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 5,700 reasons given for the 4,200 permanent exclusions in autumn term 2023/24.

The most common reason recorded for permanent exclusions was persistent disruptive behaviour. There were 2,100 permanent exclusions where this reason was recorded, 36% of all reasons given. This was followed by physical assault against a pupil, with 940 permanent exclusions including this reason (16%) and physical assault against and an adult with 770 permanent exclusions including these reasons (13%).

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Region and local authority level data

Both suspension and permanent exclusion rates varied across regions and local authorities.

The North East has both the highest suspension and permanent exclusions rates, 6.77 and 0.09 respectively. Outer London had the lowest suspension rate of 1.86, and the lowest permanent exclusion rate of 0.02.

The map below shows the suspension and permanent exclusion rates for each local authority in autumn term 2023/24, by school type.

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Pupil characteristics

Pupils with SEN and FSM eligibility continue to have some of the highest rates of suspensions and permanent exclusions

The table below shows counts and rates of suspensions and permanent exclusions broken down by sex, free school meal eligibility (FSM), special educational need provision (SEN) and year group. Data for unclassified/unknown sex, FSM status, SEN and year group are not presented in the tables due to very low numbers, which lead to volatile rates.

For context, the overall suspension rate for autumn term 2023/24 was 4.13 and permanent exclusion rate was 0.05.

Sex - The suspension rate for male pupils was more than 1.5 times that of female pupils, with rates of 5.15 and 3.08, respectively. Male pupils also had a higher permanent exclusion rate of 0.07, which is more than twice that of female pupils, who had a rate of 0.03.

Free school meals (FSM) - The suspension rate for pupils eligible for FSM was more than four times that of pupils who were not eligible. Permanent exclusion rates were also higher for FSM-eligible pupils, with a rate of 0.13 compared to 0.02 for pupils who were not eligible.

Special educational needs (SEN) - The rate of suspensions among pupils with an education, health, and care (EHC) plan was 10.05, which is lower than the rate for those with SEN support at 11.27. In contrast, the rate for pupils with no identified SEN was 2.69. The gap in suspension rates between pupils with an EHC plan or SEN support and those with no identified SEN has been widening since the pandemic.

Additionally, pupils with SEN support experienced one of the highest rates of permanent exclusions at 0.16.

Year group - Year 9 had the highest suspension rate of 11.63, closely followed by Year 10 with a rate of 11.18. Year 10 also had the highest rate of permanent exclusions at 0.16. Compared to the previous autumn term, the number of suspensions in Years 8 and 9 increased by 20,600 and 21,300 respectively, representing the largest increases among all year groups.

In the primary phase, Year 6 had the highest rates of suspensions at 1.24 and permanent exclusions at 0.02. Compared to the previous autumn term, Year 6 also experienced the largest increase in the number of suspensions, rising by 2,400.

Ethnicity

Gypsy/Roma pupils continued to have both the highest suspension and exclusion rates in autumn term 2023/24, at 15.37 and 0.16 respectively. Traveller of Irish Heritage pupils had the second highest rates of suspensions (10.05) and permanent exclusions together with Mixed White and Black Caribbean (0.13).

Pupils in the Chinese ethnic group continued to have the lowest rates of suspensions (0.33) and permanent exclusions (0.005).

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State-funded alternative provision

State-funded alternative provision (AP) includes pupil referral units, alternative provision academies and alternative provision free schools.

Suspensions in state-funded alternative provision increased from 13,100 in autumn term 2022/23 to 15,400 in autumn term 2023/24. The number of permanent exclusions was very small, with 11 in autumn term 2022/23, decreasing to 8 in autumn term 2023/24.

Suspension and permanent exclusion rates for alternative provision are not presented here but are included in the underlying data files. Caution is advised when using these, as alternative provision settings tend to be disproportionately affected by dual subsidiary pupils not being included in the headcount when calculating suspensions and permanent exclusion rates, which may result in rates that appear significantly higher than other phases.

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Further data

The headline figures in this publication cover the autumn term 2023/24 and comparisons to previous terms are presented. The next publication in the series will add data for spring 2023/24.

The latest full academic year for which data is available is 2022/23. This data is available at

Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2022/23 - Explore education statistics - GOV.UK

or via the past releases drop down in the top right toolbar of this publication.

Further data is available in the data catalogue, or you can create your own tables using the table tool including:

  • Permanent exclusions and suspensions by pupil characteristics
  • Suspensions - Number of days missed
  • Suspensions - Duration of suspensions
  • Suspensions - Average days missed
  • Suspensions - Number of suspensions

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Help and support

Methodology

Find out how and why we collect, process and publish these statistics.

  • Pupil exclusion statistics: methodology

Accredited official statistics

These accredited official statistics have been independently reviewed by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). They comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics. Accredited official statistics are called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007.

Accreditation signifies their compliance with the authority's Code of Practice for Statistics which broadly means these statistics are:

  • managed impartially and objectively in the public interest
  • meet identified user needs
  • produced according to sound methods
  • well explained and readily accessible

Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR).

OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to.

You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards. Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing regulation@statistics.gov.uk or via the OSR website.

Contact us

If you have a specific enquiry about Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England statistics and data:

Attendance and exclusions statistics team

Email: schools.statistics@education.gov.uk
Contact name: Attendance and exclusions statistics team

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Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Autumn term 2023/24 (2024)
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