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Just three pupils permanently excluded in Scotland

Just three pupils permanently excluded in Scotland

Boys, pupils with ASN and disadvantaged children remain more likely to be temporarily excluded, official figures show

10th December 2019, 2:29pm

Exclusions: Just Three Pupils Were Permanently Excluded From Scottish Schools Last Year

Every two years the Scottish government publishes statistics showing how many pupils were excluded from school either permanently or temporarily over the course of the previous year, with the most recent analysis published today.

The figures for 2018-19 show that just three pupils were permanently excluded from their school - although this does represent a rise on 2016-17, when just one pupil was permanently excluded in Scotland.

Overall, the number of temporary exclusions continued its downward trajectory. However, the figures also show that pupils with additional support needs are almost five times more likely to be excluded than pupils without. Pupils from the most deprived areas are also much more likely to be excluded - as are boys.

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School exclusions in Scotland: the numbers

Here we take a closer look at what the new figures show:

There were 14,990 cases of exclusion in Scotland in 2018-19, down from 18,381 in 2016-17. By comparison, there were 26,844 exclusions in 2010-11.
There were 21.6 cases of exclusion per 1,000 pupils in 2018-19, down from 26.8 in 2016-17. There were 40 cases of exclusion per 1,000 pupils in 2010-11.
99 per cent of exclusions were for a fixed period of time last year.
Three pupils were permanently excluded from their school last year. This compares with 60 pupils who were permanently excluded in 2010-11.
At total of 14,987 pupils were temporarily excluded from their school last year. This compares with 26,784 who were temporarily excluded in 2010-11.
Pupils with an additional support need (ASN) are five times more likely to be excluded from school than pupils without an additional support need (49.3 exclusions per 1,000 pupils, compared with 10.4).
Pupils living in the most deprived areas of Scotland are four times more likely to be excluded from school than those living in the least deprived areas (35.4 exclusions per 1,000 pupils, compared with 8.2).
Boys are three times more likely to be excluded from school than girls (33.4 exclusions per 1,000 pupils, compared with 9.5)