All posts tagged: Suspensions

Internal exclusions not linked with lower suspensions

Internal exclusions not linked with lower suspensions

Published by skeptic

Internal exclusions may not lead to fewer suspensions from school, early research has suggested. Analysis by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) of three London council areas found “tentative correlations” between the use of internal exclusions – where pupils are removed from class but stay within school – and rates of suspensions. It comes as the Department for Education plans to share new guidance with schools to encourage headteachers to only send pupils home for the most serious cases of poor behaviour and violence, aiming to reduce lost learning time. Schools could also be required to record internal exclusions under the new guidance. But data analysis of the use of types of exclusion in Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Lewisham should be “treated with caution”, EPI said, due to the small sample size. ‘Substantial variation’ Researchers became interested in behaviour management in Hackney schools after a probe into Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy found “isolating” and “shaming” practices. Tower Hamlets and Lewisham were selected due to similar economic and geographical demographics. A total of 33 schools responded. Despite …

Just 1 in 30 staff say they’re overused

Just 1 in 30 staff say they’re overused

Published by skeptic

More from this theme Recent articles Fewer than one in 30 teachers and leaders say their school uses suspensions excessively, despite fresh government pressure on leaders to keep more pupils in school. Last week the Department for Education (DfE) pledged a new framework for “internal suspensions” – often called internal exclusions or isolation – as part of its looming white paper. Guidance will encourage schools to send fewer pupils home, limiting off-site suspensions to “the most serious and violent behaviour”. But the announcement prompted warnings of greater disruption in schools, and confusion over what the government wants  – as suspended pupils cannot currently be kept in school. While suspensions have increased by a fifth in recent years, just one per cent of 5,020 teachers polled recently by Teacher Tapp said schools use off-site suspensions too much. Heads were slightly more likely to say the same (three per cent). Far more (31 per cent) said schools use too few, though the biggest proportion (41 per cent) said schools use the right amount. Data also revealed many …

Suspensions should only happen in most serious cases

Suspensions should only happen in most serious cases

Published by skeptic

New suspensions guidance coming with white paper, but headteachers to retain autonomy New suspensions guidance coming with white paper, but headteachers to retain autonomy Ministers have said schools should only suspend pupils in the most serious cases of poor behaviour and violence, as the Department for Education looks to publish guidance for schools on the use of internal suspensions. Internal suspensions, often referred to as internal exclusions, involve a pupil being removed from a classroom due to poor behaviour but remaining within the school. Suspensions involve the pupil being sent home. But Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said suspensions – which increased by 21 per cent between 2022-23 and 2023-24 – can “easily mean children retreating to social media, gaming and the online world instead of serving their punishment”. A Schools Week investigation also found widespread use of internal exclusions, with secondary schools that use internal exclusion isolating almost a fifth of their pupils from their classmates at least once each year. The DfE says a new framework will ensure “consistency, fairness and quality” and “strengthen the impact …