Permanent exclusions

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1. Main facts and figures

  • white Gypsy and Roma pupils had the highest permanent exclusion rates in the 2020 to 2021 school year

  • pupils from the Chinese and Indian ethnic groups had the lowest permanent exclusion rates – the rates are based on very small numbers of exclusions and are less reliable as a result

  • pandemic restrictions impacted the number of permanent exclusions in the 2 school years to July 2021, which makes comparing across years less reliable

2. Things you need to know

What the data measures

The data shows the number and rate of permanent exclusions from state-funded schools in England.

There are 2 types of exclusion:

  • temporary (also known as ‘suspensions’) which can be for up to 45 school days – you can see data on temporary exclusions by ethnicity

  • permanent, which means a pupil can’t return to the school they're excluded from

Exclusion rates are rounded to 2 decimal places.

How exclusion rates are calculated

Exclusion rates are shown as percentages, but they are not the overall percentage of pupils who were excluded.

Rates are calculated using the number of pupils in January each year and the number of exclusions in the whole academic year.

For example, a permanent exclusion rate of 00.18% is the equivalent of 18 exclusions for every 10,000 pupils.

Percentages for the number of permanent exclusions by reason for each ethnic group are calculated out of all pupils given permanent exclusions, not all pupils.

The ethnic groups used in the data

The ethnic groups used are based on the 18 ethnic groups used in the 2011 Census, with 2 exceptions:

  • there are separate categories for Traveller of Irish Heritage, and Gypsy and Roma pupils

  • the Chinese ethnic group has its own category, rather than being part of the Asian ethnic group

Data analysed over time and by local authority is shown for 6 aggregated groups:

  • Asian
  • black
  • Chinese
  • mixed
  • white
  • 'other'

This is to make sure pupil numbers are large enough to be reliable.

Pupils’ ethnicity was not known for 103 permanent school exclusions. Rates are shown separately for pupils whose ethnic group was not known.

Methodology

Read the detailed methodology document for this data.

You can also read about a data checking exercise for data from 1997 to 2010, which led to some figures being updated.

Figures for the white Gypsy and Roma group and the Traveller of Irish Heritage group are based on small numbers of pupils, which means reliable generalisations are difficult to make. Read more about how group size affects the reliability of data.

From the 2020 to 2021 school year, up to 3 reasons can be recorded for each suspension or permanent exclusion (where applicable). There is no requirement to order the reasons. In previous years, there was a different list of reasons and schools were required to report the main reason for each exclusion.

In the data file

In the school years up to 2016 to 2017, ethnicity was only collected for pupils of compulsory school age. As a result, the analysis of exclusions by ethnicity in these years only includes pupils of compulsory school age. Pupils above compulsory school age are still included in the overall exclusion totals, so these will not match total exclusions by ethnicity.

The decimal places against values for 1997 to 2010 are a result of a data checking exercise, which led to some figures being updated.

3. Permanent exclusions by ethnicity

Permanent exclusion rate, and number of permanent exclusions, by ethnicity
Ethnicity Rate Number
All 0.05 3,928
Asian 0.02 208
Bangladeshi 0.03 39
Indian 0.01 20
Pakistani 0.03 124
Asian Other 0.02 25
Black 0.05 222
Black African 0.03 109
Black Caribbean 0.08 70
Black Other 0.07 43
Chinese 0.00 1
Mixed 0.06 336
Mixed White And Asian 0.04 54
Mixed White And Black African 0.05 39
Mixed White And Black Caribbean 0.12 153
Mixed Other 0.05 90
White 0.05 3,004
Gypsy, Roma 0.18 46
Irish Traveller 0.10 6
White British 0.05 2,784
White Irish 0.06 13
White Other 0.03 155
Other 0.03 54
Unknown 0.08 103

Download table data for ‘Permanent exclusions by ethnicity’ (CSV) Source data for ‘Permanent exclusions by ethnicity’ (CSV)

Summary of Permanent exclusions Permanent exclusions by ethnicity Summary

There are low numbers of exclusions in some ethnic groups – this means the data is less reliable as a result.

The data shows that:

  • the highest permanent exclusion rates were for white Gypsy and Roma pupils (0.18%, or 18 exclusions per 10,000 pupils), and mixed white and black Caribbean pupils (0.12%, or 12 per 10,000 pupils)

  • pupils from the Chinese and Indian ethnic groups had the lowest exclusion rates (0.00% and 0.01%, or 1 per 10,000 pupils)

  • the permanent exclusion rate for white British pupils was 0.05%, or 5 per 10,000 pupils

  • the overall exclusion rate was 0.05% – around 5 permanent exclusions per 10,000 pupils

4. Permanent exclusions by ethnicity over time

Permanent exclusion rate, and number of permanent exclusions, by ethnicity over time
All Asian Black Chinese Mixed White Other
Academic year All Rate All Number Asian Rate Asian Number Black Rate Black Number Chinese Rate Chinese Number Mixed Rate Mixed Number White Rate White Number Other Rate Other Number
2006/07 0.12 8,658.00 0.07 340.61 0.23 642.99 0.00 1.06 0.23 506.41 0.12 6,769.30 0.07 49.22
2007/08 0.11 8,126.00 0.06 307.20 0.24 695.96 0.01 3.47 0.20 458.30 0.12 6,355.74 0.10 79.28
2008/09 0.09 6,379.00 0.05 286.99 0.18 536.04 0.01 3.03 0.15 361.25 0.09 4,947.85 0.09 71.91
2009/10 0.08 5,741.02 0.04 244.71 0.19 598.70 0.01 2.31 0.15 385.45 0.08 4,321.95 0.06 55.72
2010/11 0.07 5,082.00 0.04 211.00 0.14 443.00 0.00 0.00 0.13 362.00 0.07 3,853.00 0.05 47.00
2011/12 0.07 5,166.00 0.03 216.00 0.12 420.00 0.01 3.00 0.13 366.00 0.08 3,981.00 0.06 55.00
2012/13 0.06 4,632.00 0.03 212.00 0.11 397.00 0.02 5.00 0.11 346.00 0.07 3,524.00 0.06 58.00
2013/14 0.06 4,949.00 0.03 197.00 0.12 433.00 0.01 2.00 0.11 350.00 0.07 3,804.00 0.05 49.00
2014/15 0.07 5,795.00 0.03 240.00 0.12 464.00 0.01 2.00 0.12 428.00 0.09 4,452.00 0.07 76.00
2015/16 0.08 6,684.00 0.04 314.00 0.14 540.00 0.01 3.00 0.14 521.00 0.10 5,056.00 0.07 89.00
2016/17 0.10 7,719.00 0.04 310.00 0.14 619.00 0.01 2.00 0.14 635.00 0.10 5,897.00 0.07 100.00
2017/18 0.10 7,905.00 0.04 361.00 0.13 588.00 0.01 3.00 0.16 745.00 0.10 5,945.00 0.06 96.00
2018/19 0.10 7,894.00 0.04 366.00 0.11 529.00 0.01 3.00 0.13 658.00 0.10 6,038.00 0.08 121.00
2019/20 0.06 5,057.00 0.03 254.00 0.07 311.00 0.01 2.00 0.08 427.00 0.06 3,882.00 0.03 56.00
2020/21 0.05 3,928.00 0.02 208.00 0.05 222.00 0.00 1.00 0.06 336.00 0.05 3,004.00 0.03 54.00

Download table data for ‘Permanent exclusions by ethnicity over time’ (CSV) Source data for ‘Permanent exclusions by ethnicity over time’ (CSV)

Summary of Permanent exclusions Permanent exclusions by ethnicity over time Summary

There are low numbers of exclusions in some ethnic groups – this means the data is less reliable as a result.

The data shows that:

  • the national average went from 0.12% (12 permanent exclusions per 10,000 pupils) to 0.05% (5 exclusions per 10,000 pupils) in the 15 academic years covered by this data

  • in every year covered by this data up to the 2019 to 2020 school year, the rate for pupils from black and mixed backgrounds was higher than the national average

  • the rate for Asian pupils was consistently below the national average

  • the rate for white pupils was consistently the same as, or similar to, the national average

  • the rate for black pupils went down from 0.23% (23 exclusions per 10,000 pupils) to 0.05% (5 exclusions per 10,000 pupils) during the period covered by this data – this was the biggest decrease out of all ethnic groups as a whole

5. Permanent exclusions by ethnicity and type of school

Permanent exclusion rate, and number of permanent exclusions, by ethnicity and type of school
State-Funded Primary State-Funded Secondary Special Total
Ethnicity State-Funded Primary Rate State-Funded Primary Number State-Funded Secondary Rate State-Funded Secondary Number Special Rate Special Number Total Rate Total Number
All 0.01 392 0.10 3,492 0.03 44 0.05 3,928
Asian 0.00 7 0.05 199 0.01 2 0.02 208
Bangladeshi 0.00 0 0.06 39 0.00 0 0.03 39
Indian 0.00 2 0.02 18 0.00 0 0.01 20
Pakistani 0.00 4 0.07 119 0.02 1 0.03 124
Asian Other 0.00 1 0.03 23 0.04 1 0.02 25
Black 0.01 20 0.09 200 0.02 2 0.05 222
Black African 0.01 10 0.07 98 0.02 1 0.03 109
Black Caribbean 0.01 6 0.16 63 0.06 1 0.08 70
Black Other 0.01 4 0.15 39 0.00 0 0.07 43
Chinese 0.00 0 0.01 1 0.00 0 0.00 1
Mixed 0.01 30 0.14 303 0.03 3 0.06 336
Mixed White And Asian 0.01 6 0.09 48 0.00 0 0.04 54
Mixed White And Black African 0.00 2 0.13 37 0.00 0 0.05 39
Mixed White And Black Caribbean 0.02 13 0.26 137 0.12 3 0.12 153
Mixed Other 0.01 9 0.10 81 0.00 0 0.05 90
White 0.01 326 0.11 2,641 0.04 37 0.05 3,004
Gypsy, Roma 0.03 5 0.46 39 0.40 2 0.18 46
Irish Traveller 0.04 2 0.29 4 0.00 0 0.10 6
White British 0.01 305 0.11 2,445 0.04 34 0.05 2,784
White Irish 0.00 0 0.13 13 0.00 0 0.06 13
White Other 0.00 14 0.06 140 0.02 1 0.03 155
Other 0.00 2 0.07 52 0.00 0 0.03 54
Unknown 0.01 7 0.14 96 0.00 0 0.08 103

Download table data for ‘Permanent exclusions by ethnicity and type of school’ (CSV) Source data for ‘Permanent exclusions by ethnicity and type of school’ (CSV)

Summary of Permanent exclusions Permanent exclusions by ethnicity and type of school Summary

There are low numbers of exclusions in some ethnic groups – this means the data is less reliable for comparisons as a result.

The data shows that, in the 2020 to 2021 school year:

  • the overall exclusion rate was highest in secondary schools (0.10%, or 10 exclusions per 10,000 pupils), and lowest in primary schools (0.01%, or 1 exclusion per 10,000 pupils)

  • out of all ethnic groups and types of school, the highest rates were among white Gypsy and Roma pupils in secondary schools (0.46%, or 46 exclusions per 10,000 pupils) and special schools (0.40%, or 40 exclusions per 10,000 pupils)

  • the next highest rates were among mixed Irish Traveller pupils in secondary schools (0.29%, or 29 exclusions per 10,000 pupils), and mixed white and black Caribbean pupils in secondary schools (0.26%, or 26 exclusions per 10,000 pupils)

6. Permanent exclusions by ethnicity and local authority

Permanent exclusion rate, and number of permanent exclusions, by ethnicity and local authority
All Asian Black Chinese Mixed White Other
Local Authority All Rate All Number Asian Rate Asian Number Black Rate Black Number Chinese Rate Chinese Number Mixed Rate Mixed Number White Rate White Number Other Rate Other Number
Barking And Dagenham 0.03 13 0.01 1 0.02 2 0.00 0 0.07 3 0.05 7 0.00 0
Barnet 0.02 15 0.00 0 0.03 2 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.04 11 0.03 2
Barnsley 0.10 36 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.11 36 0.00 0
Bath And North East Somerset 0.06 16 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.20 3 0.05 12 0.00 0
Bedford 0.11 33 0.02 1 0.28 5 0.00 0 0.19 6 0.11 21 0.00 0
Bexley 0.06 25 0.00 0 0.04 3 0.00 0 0.06 2 0.07 19 0.00 0
Birmingham 0.06 125 0.04 31 0.06 16 0.00 0 0.09 16 0.08 52 0.04 5
Blackburn With Darwen 0.04 12 0.02 2 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.10 1 0.06 8 0.23 1
Blackpool 0.08 15 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.15 1 0.08 14 0.00 0
Bolton 0.11 59 0.02 2 0.12 4 0.00 0 0.12 3 0.15 49 0.00 0
Bournemouth, Christchurch And Poole 0.09 48 0.06 1 0.24 1 0.00 0 0.06 2 0.10 43 0.16 1
Bracknell Forest 0.01 1 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.01 1 0.00 0
Bradford 0.04 42 0.03 12 0.06 1 0.00 0 0.06 4 0.05 23 0.06 1
Brent 0.04 18 0.01 1 0.08 8 0.00 0 0.03 1 0.04 5 0.05 3
Brighton And Hove 0.01 4 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.03 1 0.01 3 0.00 0
Bristol, City Of 0.01 7 0.00 0 0.05 3 0.00 0 0.02 1 0.01 3 0.00 0
Bromley 0.03 17 0.03 1 0.05 3 0.00 0 0.03 2 0.03 10 0.00 0
Buckinghamshire 0.02 18 0.01 1 0.04 1 0.00 0 0.04 3 0.02 11 0.00 0
Bury 0.03 10 0.02 1 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.04 8 0.00 0
Calderdale 0.09 34 0.15 10 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.06 1 0.08 22 0.00 0
Cambridgeshire 0.00 2 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 2 0.00 0
Camden 0.08 17 0.00 0 0.05 2 0.00 0 0.29 8 0.07 6 0.00 0
Central Bedfordshire 0.04 19 0.00 0 0.17 2 0.00 0 0.07 2 0.04 15 0.00 0
Cheshire East 0.03 14 0.00 0 0.31 1 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.02 12 0.00 0
Cheshire West And Chester 0.06 29 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.06 1 0.06 28 0.00 0
City Of London 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0
Cornwall 0.05 34 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.06 1 0.05 33 0.00 0
County Durham 0.07 50 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.08 1 0.07 48 0.00 0
Coventry 0.03 19 0.00 0 0.04 3 0.00 0 0.07 3 0.04 13 0.00 0
Croydon 0.03 15 0.02 2 0.04 6 0.00 0 0.02 2 0.02 5 0.00 0
Cumbria 0.05 37 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.05 34 0.00 0
Darlington 0.11 18 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.12 18 0.00 0
Derby 0.02 8 0.01 1 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.06 2 0.02 5 0.00 0
Derbyshire 0.09 92 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.06 2 0.09 87 0.36 1
Devon 0.05 50 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.04 1 0.05 47 0.12 1
Doncaster 0.05 23 0.00 0 0.15 1 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.05 21 0.00 0
Dorset 0.06 31 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.07 31 0.00 0
Dudley 0.07 33 0.08 4 0.07 1 0.00 0 0.11 4 0.06 22 0.00 0
Ealing 0.04 20 0.02 4 0.05 4 0.00 0 0.02 1 0.06 9 0.01 1
East Riding Of Yorkshire 0.04 16 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.04 16 0.00 0
East Sussex 0.03 23 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.03 1 0.03 20 0.28 1
Enfield 0.02 9 0.00 0 0.02 3 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.01 3 0.03 1
Essex 0.03 59 0.00 0 0.04 3 0.00 0 0.08 9 0.02 42 0.00 0
Gateshead 0.14 40 0.25 2 0.18 1 0.00 0 0.41 3 0.13 33 0.00 0
Gloucestershire 0.05 46 0.00 0 0.34 5 0.00 0 0.20 9 0.04 31 0.29 1
Greenwich 0.02 10 0.00 0 0.02 3 0.00 0 0.04 2 0.03 5 0.00 0
Hackney 0.02 6 0.02 1 0.01 1 0.00 0 0.05 2 0.02 2 0.00 0
Halton 0.07 13 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.07 13 0.00 0
Hammersmith And Fulham 0.04 9 0.00 0 0.05 2 0.00 0 0.10 3 0.02 2 0.04 1
Hampshire 0.02 32 0.00 0 0.04 1 0.00 0 0.03 2 0.02 29 0.00 0
Haringey 0.04 16 0.00 0 0.09 7 0.00 0 0.06 3 0.03 5 0.04 1
Harrow 0.03 11 0.01 2 0.06 2 0.00 0 0.09 3 0.03 3 0.05 1
Hartlepool 0.01 2 0.00 0 1.05 1 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.01 1 0.00 0
Havering 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0
Herefordshire, County Of 0.06 15 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.07 15 0.00 0
Hertfordshire 0.03 59 0.03 5 0.03 3 0.00 0 0.03 5 0.03 42 0.09 2
Hillingdon 0.06 32 0.01 2 0.04 2 0.00 0 0.11 7 0.10 19 0.02 1
Hounslow 0.06 26 0.02 3 0.17 8 0.00 0 0.10 4 0.05 7 0.06 3
Isle Of Wight 0.06 10 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.06 9 0.00 0
Isles Of Scilly 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0
Islington 0.00 1 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.01 1 0.00 0
Kensington And Chelsea 0.05 6 0.00 0 0.13 3 0.00 0 0.04 1 0.02 1 0.05 1
Kent 0.00 8 0.01 1 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 7 0.00 0
Kingston Upon Hull, City Of 0.06 23 0.00 0 0.12 1 0.00 0 0.12 2 0.05 20 0.00 0
Kingston Upon Thames 0.05 12 0.06 3 0.13 1 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.03 5 0.13 2
Kirklees 0.05 31 0.01 2 0.07 1 0.00 0 0.04 2 0.06 25 0.00 0
Knowsley 0.04 8 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.04 8 0.00 0
Lambeth 0.01 4 0.05 1 0.01 1 0.00 0 0.02 1 0.01 1 0.00 0
Lancashire 0.08 148 0.04 8 0.31 3 0.00 0 0.08 5 0.09 128 0.00 0
Leeds 0.00 2 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 2 0.00 0
Leicester 0.01 6 0.01 2 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.05 2 0.01 2 0.00 0
Leicestershire 0.01 7 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.04 2 0.01 5 0.00 0
Lewisham 0.03 10 0.00 0 0.05 7 0.00 0 0.02 1 0.01 1 0.00 0
Lincolnshire 0.07 73 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.14 5 0.07 66 0.00 0
Liverpool 0.05 41 0.00 0 0.08 3 0.00 0 0.07 3 0.06 32 0.05 2
Luton 0.06 24 0.05 9 0.05 2 0.00 0 0.11 4 0.08 9 0.00 0
Manchester 0.04 38 0.03 6 0.03 4 0.00 0 0.08 7 0.05 16 0.04 3
Medway 0.01 6 0.04 1 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.03 1 0.01 4 0.00 0
Merton 0.02 5 0.00 0 0.03 1 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.03 4 0.00 0
Middlesbrough 0.11 28 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.14 2 0.13 24 0.11 1
Milton Keynes 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0
Newcastle Upon Tyne 0.07 27 0.08 4 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.05 1 0.07 21 0.07 1
Newham 0.04 23 0.01 4 0.04 5 0.00 0 0.09 4 0.05 5 0.12 4
Norfolk 0.11 131 0.00 0 0.22 3 0.00 0 0.19 8 0.11 116 0.10 1
North East Lincolnshire 0.08 20 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.09 20 0.00 0
North Lincolnshire 0.04 11 0.11 1 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.04 10 0.00 0
North Somerset 0.03 10 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.09 1 0.03 9 0.00 0
North Tyneside 0.08 26 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.56 1 0.11 1 0.08 23 0.00 0
North Yorkshire 0.03 23 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.09 2 0.03 20 0.00 0
Northamptonshire 0.06 67 0.05 3 0.05 3 0.00 0 0.09 7 0.05 51 0.00 0
Northumberland 0.08 37 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.22 2 0.08 34 0.00 0
Nottingham 0.15 69 0.06 5 0.05 3 0.00 0 0.19 12 0.20 47 0.00 0
Nottinghamshire 0.02 29 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.03 2 0.02 23 0.12 1
Oldham 0.06 29 0.04 6 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.30 7 0.07 16 0.00 0
Oxfordshire 0.02 15 0.00 0 0.04 1 0.00 0 0.01 1 0.02 12 0.00 0
Peterborough 0.05 21 0.03 2 0.18 3 0.00 0 0.07 2 0.05 13 0.16 1
Plymouth 0.09 37 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.24 3 0.09 32 0.00 0
Portsmouth 0.02 6 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.07 1 0.01 3 0.00 0
Reading 0.01 3 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.04 1 0.02 2 0.00 0
Redbridge 0.03 19 0.03 9 0.07 4 0.00 0 0.04 2 0.02 3 0.11 1
Redcar And Cleveland 0.12 25 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.12 24 0.00 0
Richmond Upon Thames 0.01 4 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.09 3 0.00 1 0.00 0
Rochdale 0.12 44 0.04 4 0.22 4 0.00 0 0.29 6 0.13 30 0.00 0
Rotherham 0.05 23 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.07 1 0.06 22 0.00 0
Rutland 0.07 4 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.07 4 0.00 0
Salford 0.08 31 0.00 0 0.04 1 0.00 0 0.03 1 0.10 29 0.00 0
Sandwell 0.07 41 0.03 5 0.07 4 0.00 0 0.09 5 0.10 27 0.00 0
Sefton 0.03 13 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.04 13 0.00 0
Sheffield 0.06 53 0.02 2 0.02 1 0.00 0 0.09 6 0.08 43 0.00 0
Shropshire 0.08 33 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.28 3 0.08 29 0.00 0
Slough 0.02 8 0.01 2 0.04 1 0.00 0 0.06 2 0.04 3 0.00 0
Solihull 0.06 23 0.04 2 0.11 1 0.00 0 0.15 5 0.04 13 0.00 0
Somerset 0.07 49 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.15 3 0.07 46 0.00 0
South Gloucestershire 0.03 13 0.00 0 0.12 1 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.03 12 0.00 0
South Tyneside 0.07 15 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.15 1 0.07 14 0.00 0
Southampton 0.02 8 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.13 3 0.02 5 0.00 0
Southend-On-Sea 0.03 8 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.03 8 0.00 0
Southwark 0.03 13 0.00 0 0.02 4 0.00 0 0.07 4 0.04 5 0.00 0
St. Helens 0.04 11 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.34 2 0.04 9 0.00 0
Staffordshire 0.06 68 0.02 1 0.10 1 0.00 0 0.15 7 0.05 57 0.00 0
Stockport 0.07 29 0.06 2 0.48 3 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.07 24 0.00 0
Stockton-On-Tees 0.07 23 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.08 23 0.00 0
Stoke-On-Trent 0.06 25 0.03 2 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.05 1 0.07 19 0.34 3
Suffolk 0.08 82 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.08 5 0.08 68 0.10 1
Sunderland 0.08 34 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.12 1 0.09 33 0.00 0
Surrey 0.04 64 0.03 4 0.09 3 0.00 0 0.03 3 0.04 52 0.00 0
Sutton 0.07 28 0.01 1 0.03 1 0.00 0 0.12 5 0.10 21 0.00 0
Swindon 0.06 23 0.04 2 0.08 1 0.00 0 0.09 2 0.07 18 0.00 0
Tameside 0.10 36 0.02 1 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.14 3 0.11 32 0.00 0
Telford And Wrekin 0.08 25 0.04 1 0.07 1 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.09 23 0.00 0
Thurrock 0.04 12 0.05 1 0.02 1 0.00 0 0.04 1 0.04 8 0.00 0
Torbay 0.11 23 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.12 23 0.00 0
Tower Hamlets 0.01 3 0.01 2 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.02 1 0.00 0
Trafford 0.04 17 0.00 0 0.11 2 0.00 0 0.17 6 0.03 8 0.09 1
Wakefield 0.05 28 0.05 1 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.06 27 0.00 0
Walsall 0.08 42 0.02 2 0.20 6 0.00 0 0.19 7 0.08 26 0.14 1
Waltham Forest 0.04 18 0.03 3 0.10 7 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.03 5 0.06 1
Wandsworth 0.01 5 0.02 1 0.01 1 0.00 0 0.02 1 0.01 1 0.00 0
Warrington 0.03 9 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.08 1 0.02 6 0.00 0
Warwickshire 0.04 30 0.02 1 0.08 1 0.00 0 0.02 1 0.04 26 0.00 0
West Berkshire 0.03 9 0.00 0 0.24 1 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.03 8 0.00 0
West Sussex 0.06 64 0.03 2 0.11 2 0.00 0 0.02 1 0.06 58 0.13 1
Westminster 0.02 5 0.00 0 0.05 2 0.00 0 0.04 1 0.02 1 0.00 0
Wigan 0.09 43 0.00 0 0.13 1 0.00 0 0.16 2 0.09 40 0.00 0
Wiltshire 0.01 4 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.01 4 0.00 0
Windsor And Maidenhead 0.08 18 0.12 4 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.05 1 0.08 13 0.00 0
Wirral 0.04 20 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.06 1 0.04 19 0.00 0
Wokingham 0.03 9 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.09 2 0.03 5 0.00 0
Wolverhampton 0.12 58 0.03 4 0.17 9 0.00 0 0.19 11 0.14 33 0.00 0
Worcestershire 0.08 64 0.03 1 0.17 1 0.00 0 0.06 2 0.08 60 0.00 0
York 0.05 14 0.00 0 0.64 1 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.06 13 0.00 0

Download table data for ‘Permanent exclusions by ethnicity and local authority’ (CSV) Source data for ‘Permanent exclusions by ethnicity and local authority’ (CSV)

Summary of Permanent exclusions Permanent exclusions by ethnicity and local authority Summary

The data shows that, in the 2020 to 2021 school year:

  • the overall exclusion rate was highest in Nottingham (0.15%, or 15 exclusions per 10,000 pupils), and Gateshead (0.14%, or 14 exclusions per 10,000 pupils)

  • the highest permanent exclusion rate for white pupils was in Nottingham (0.20%, or 20 exclusions per 10,000 pupils)

  • figures for other ethnic groups are often based on small numbers of exclusions and pupils, so generalisations are not reliable

7. Permanent exclusions by ethnicity and reason

Percentage and number of permanent exclusions, by ethnicity and reason
All Asian Black Chinese Mixed White Other
Reason All Rate All Numerator Asian Rate Asian Numerator Black Rate Black Numerator Chinese Rate Chinese Numerator Mixed Rate Mixed Numerator White Rate White Numerator Other Rate Other Numerator
Abuse Against Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity 0.05 2 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.10 2 0.00 0
Bullying 0.33 13 1.90 4 0.90 2 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.20 6 1.90 1
Damage 1.25 49 1.40 3 0.90 2 0.00 0 0.90 3 1.20 37 0.00 0
Drug And Alcohol Related 9.85 387 14.90 31 9.00 20 0.00 0 10.70 36 9.60 287 7.40 4
Inappropriate Use Of Social Media Or Online Technology 0.38 15 0.50 1 0.50 1 0.00 0 0.30 1 0.40 12 0.00 0
Persistent Disruptive Behaviour 25.71 1,010 11.10 23 13.50 30 0.00 0 19.60 66 28.50 857 20.40 11
Physical Assault Against A Pupil 22.35 878 25.50 53 24.30 54 0.00 0 25.30 85 21.30 641 24.10 13
Physical Assault Against An Adult 11.76 462 8.70 18 9.50 21 0.00 0 12.20 41 12.40 373 3.70 2
Racist Abuse 0.51 20 1.90 4 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.30 1 0.50 15 0.00 0
Sexual Misconduct 1.45 57 1.90 4 5.90 13 0.00 0 1.20 4 1.00 31 7.40 4
Theft 0.33 13 1.40 3 0.50 1 0.00 0 0.30 1 0.20 6 0.00 0
Use Or Threat Of Use Of An Offensive Weapon Or Prohibited Item 11.53 453 19.20 40 21.20 47 100.00 1 17.30 58 9.50 284 22.20 12
Verbal Abuse/ Threatening Behaviour Against A Pupil 5.17 203 5.80 12 5.40 12 0.00 0 5.10 17 5.10 154 5.60 3
Verbal Abuse/ Threatening Behaviour Against An Adult 8.94 351 5.80 12 6.80 15 0.00 0 6.80 23 9.60 288 7.40 4
Wilful And Repeated Transgression Of Protective Measures In Place To Protect Public Health 0.38 15 0.00 0 1.80 4 0.00 0 0.00 0 0.40 11 0.00 0

Download table data for ‘Permanent exclusions by ethnicity and reason’ (CSV) Source data for ‘Permanent exclusions by ethnicity and reason’ (CSV)

Summary of Permanent exclusions Permanent exclusions by ethnicity and reason Summary

The data shows the number of permanent exclusions by reason. Percentages for each ethnic group are calculated out of all pupils given permanent exclusions, not all pupils.

Some figures are based on small numbers of exclusions, so generalisations based on these figures are not reliable.

The data shows that:

  • overall, the most common reasons for permanent exclusions were persistent disruptive behaviour (25.71%), physical assault against a pupil (22.35%), and physical assault against an adult (11.76%)

  • the least common reasons for permanent exclusions were bullying (0.33%), theft (0.33%), and abuse against sexual orientation and gender identity (0.05%)

  • persistent disruptive behaviour was the most common reason why white pupils (28.5%) were given a permanent exclusion

  • physical assault against a pupil was the most common reason why Asian pupils (25.5%), black pupils (24.3%) and pupils from the mixed ethnic group (25.3%) were given a permanent exclusion

8. Data sources

Source

Type of data

Administrative data

Type of statistic

National Statistics

Publisher

Department for Education

Publication frequency

Yearly

Purpose of data source

The data helps schools, local authorities and the government have a greater understanding of the level of exclusions and suspensions and the reasons for them.

9. Download the data

exclusions-reasons-data - Spreadsheet (csv) 85 KB

This file contains the following variables: measure (permanent or temporary exclusions), reason for exclusion, ethnicity and number of exclusions

exclusions-national-data - Spreadsheet (csv) 316 KB

This file contains the following variables: measure (permanent or temporary exclusions), time (academic year), ethnicity, type of school, value (exclusion rate), numerator (number of exclusions), denominator (pupils)

exclusions-local-authority-data - Spreadsheet (csv) 3 MB

This file contains the following variables: measure (permanent or temporary exclusions), time (academic year), ethnicity, local authority, type of school, value (exclusion rate), numerator (number of exclusions), denominator (pupils)