Number of pupils excluded because of assaults rises in Lancashire (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Number of pupils excluded because of assaults rises in Lancashire

8:00am Sunday 29th July 2012 in Ribble Valley news

SCHOOL exclusion figures for physical assaults on teachers and other pupils are on the rise, but education bosses say the figures are not a true representation of children’s behaviour.

And a union has said that overall schools are dealing well with the worst types of pupil conduct.

Figures for both primary and secondary schools across Lancashire showed an increase in the number of temporary and permanent exclusions.

But officials say discipline is taken very seriously and the low figure is only a fraction of the overall pupil numbers across the region.

And un Overall the number of primary permanent exclusions increased from 22 to 34 from the previous school year - an increase of 54.5 per cent. In total 31 primary head teachers out of 473 schools implemented permanent sanctions.

The number of expulsion days across primary schools increased by 322 days - a rise of 26.4 per cent.

In Lancashire there had been a downward trend in relation to total incidents in these categories of exclusion from 2007/8 through to 2009/10.

County Councillor Susie Charles, cabinet member for children and schools, said: “I'm glad to say that in Lancashire, exclusions for physical aggression are few and far between.

“For example, last year's figures averaged out, meaning that each of our primary schools would only permanently exclude a pupil for violence about once every 20 years.

“However, we are not complacent. Lancashire schools take discipline very seriously and our headteachers have the confidence to use fixed-term and permanent exclusion where necessary.”

Avis Gilmore, North West National Union of Teachers (NUT) representative, said: “Where an exclusion is necessary we do support headteachers in their decisions. But they are few and far between.

“The type of behaviour that does warrant an exclusion is not the reality of the behaviour of the vast majority of pupils.

“The information shows that the overwhelming majority of staff and pupils and parents feel safe and secure in school.”