The number of suspensions in Leicestershire’s secondary schools has tripled since the pandemic. Latest Department for Education (DfE) figures have revealed that the number of those being suspended has also quadrupled in the last seven years.
In all, a total of 5,459 suspensions were given to state-funded Leicestershire secondary school pupils during the 2023/24 Autumn term. That is up from 3,485 a year earlier, and is almost triple the 1,904 suspensions in the Autumn term of 2019/20 - the last one before the Covid-19 pandemic.
The number of suspensions in the Autumn of 2023/24 was also nearly four times higher than at the same time in 2016/17, the earliest term for which figures are available. A total of 1,383 suspensions were made back then.
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Broken down, the DfE figures show that there were 7.9 suspensions for every 100 pupils across Leicestershire in the 2023/24 Autumn term. That’s up from 3.0 per 100 pupils in the Autumn of 2019/20 and 2.3 in the Autumn of 2016/17.
Leicestershire County Council had the highest rate of any local authority in the county. Suspensions were given at the rate of 8.3 per 100 pupils in the 2023/24 Autumn term, up from 2.9 per 100 before the pandemic.
Councillor Deborah Taylor, Leicestershire County Council lead member for children and families, said: “Following the pandemic and associated lockdowns, some children and young people in Leicestershire are struggling in school, just as they are nationally, and there has been a rise in the number of suspensions.
“Schools make their own decisions regarding suspensions. However, our Education Services work in collaboration with Leicestershire schools in meeting the emerging needs of children and young people to reduce this number. This may be through offering training, working directly with children and young people or engaging their families in support offers.”
Meanwhile, Leicester saw the rate of suspensions jump from 3.1 before the pandemic to 7.1 in 2023/24. The situation in Leicestershire is similar to that of England as a whole.
The number of suspensions across the country has risen from 101,209 in the Autumn term of 2016/17 to 143,006 in 2019/20 and then to 300,300 in the Autumn of 2023/24. Similarly, the rate per 100 pupils has increased from 3.1 to 4.2 and finally 8.2 in the same three term periods.
The increases in suspensions being handed out are not simply down to rising pupil numbers. Suspensions are also on the rise when compared to the number of pupils in schools. Suspension rates at state-funded secondaries are also through the roof.
A Leicester City Council spokesperson said: “A headteacher may decide to suspend or exclude a pupil only under strict circumstances. Department for Education guidance supports headteachers in using suspension and permanent exclusion as a sanction when warranted as part of creating calm, safe, and supportive environments where both pupils and staff can work in safety and are respected
“The city council provides a range of services to schools and families to support pupil behaviour as well as other areas of need. As in previous years, rates for both permanent exclusions and suspensions in Leicester schools remain below the national average.”
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