Pupil exclusions

Department:
Department for Education
Published:
Last updated:
, see all updates
Source:
Permanent and fixed-period exclusions in England: 2016 to 2017
Area covered:
England
Time period:
2016/17

The main facts and figures show that:

  • in 2016/17, pupils from the Traveller of Irish Heritage and Gypsy/Roma ethnic groups had the highest rates of both temporary (‘fixed period’) and permanent exclusions
  • pupils from the Chinese and Indian ethnic groups had the lowest temporary exclusion rates
  • Black Caribbean pupils were permanently excluded at nearly 3 times the rate of White British pupils
  • across the broad ethnic groups, Black and Mixed ethnicity pupils had the highest rates of both temporary and permanent exclusions
Things you need to know

Some of this data is based on very small numbers of pupils, and can therefore be unreliable. For example, only 120 Traveller of Irish Heritage pupils went to a special school in January 2017.

The Department for Education (DfE) has excluded values based on very small pupil numbers (for example, values of 1 or 2, or a percentage based on 1 or 2 exclusions).

This is because, where the number of pupils in an ethnic group is small enough that an individual’s identity could be revealed, information is suppressed to preserve confidentiality. This is consistent with DfE’s statistical policy statement on confidentiality (PDF).

What the data measures

The data shows the rate of temporary and permanent exclusions in schools in England and is broken down by ethnicity and type of school (primary, secondary and special).

There are 2 types of exclusion:

  • permanent exclusion – when a pupil is not allowed to return to the school they're excluded from (unless the exclusion is overturned)
  • temporary exclusion – when a pupil is excluded from a school for a set period of time (up to 45 school days)

Pupils can be excluded multiple times, as long as all periods of temporary exclusion for a pupil do not add up to more than 45 school days within an academic year. This includes exclusions from previous schools.

Pupils can receive more than one temporary exclusion, so in some cases the exclusion rate may be above 100%.

The data shows the number of occasions on which a pupil was excluded. It does not show the number of pupils that were excluded, or how often they were excluded. Individuals may therefore be included in the data more than once. This means that the exclusion rates should be considered with caution.

Exclusion data relates to all exclusions reported across the full academic year. Exclusion rates are calculated as a percentage of the number of pupils registered at the time of the January school census.

The ethnic categories used in this data

This data uses categories from the Department for Education’s school census, which is broadly based on the 2001 national Census, with 2 exceptions:

  • Traveller of Irish Heritage and Gypsy/Roma children have been separated into 2 categories
  • Chinese pupils have been assigned a separate category

These changes were made after consultations with local authorities and lobby groups.

The categories in the school census are:

White:

  • White British
  • White Irish
  • Traveller of Irish Heritage
  • Gypsy/Roma
  • Other White

Mixed/Multiple ethnic groups:

  • White and Black Caribbean
  • White and Black African
  • White and Asian
  • Other Mixed background

Asian/Asian British:

  • Indian
  • Pakistani
  • Bangladeshi
  • Sri Lankan
  • Other Asian background

Black/African/Caribbean/Black British:

  • Black African
  • Black Caribbean
  • Other Black background

Chinese

Other ethnic group

Information is provided for both detailed and broad ethnic groups where possible and when the data is available.

However, local authority data is only provided for the 6 broad ethnic groups. Information about the specific ethnic categories is excluded to preserve confidentiality and ensure individuals cannot be identified.

The 6 broad categories are:

  • Asian/Asian British
  • Black/African/Caribbean/Black British
  • Chinese
  • Mixed/Multiple ethnic groups
  • White
  • Other

Ethnic groups and how data on ethnicity is collected

Temporary exclusions by ethnicity

Location:
England
Time period:
2016/17
Source:
Permanent and fixed-period exclusions in England: 2016 to 2017

Download chart (PNG)

Number and percentage of temporary exclusions within each ethnic group

Ethnicity Exclusions %
Asian 15,680 1.80
Bangladeshi 2,610 1.88
Indian 1,990 0.84
Pakistani 9,070 2.59
Asian other 2,010 1.39
Black 25,555 5.65
Black African 12,650 4.21
Black Caribbean 9,445 10.20
Black other 3,465 5.84
Chinese 195 0.56
Mixed 25,680 5.73
Mixed White/Asian 3,360 3.20
Mixed White/Black African 3,295 5.53
Mixed White/Black Caribbean 11,590 9.69
Mixed other 7,430 4.55
White 303,725 5.08
White British 284,270 5.23
White Irish 1,160 4.98
Gypsy/Roma 4,420 17.29
Irish traveller 970 16.72
White other 12,905 2.63
Other 4,570 3.11
Unknown 6,460 7.49

Download table data (CSV) Source data (CSV)

Summary

This data shows that:

  • in 2016/17, Gypsy/Roma pupils and Travellers of Irish Heritage pupils had the highest rates of temporary exclusions at 17.29% and 16.72% respectively; this is equivalent to around 1,730 and 1,670 temporary exclusions for every 10,000 pupils in each group respectively
  • pupils from the Chinese and Indian ethnic groups had the lowest rates of temporary exclusions, at 0.56% and 0.84% (equivalent to 56 and 84 exclusions per 10,000 pupils respectively)
  • among the broad ethnic groups, Mixed ethnicity (5.73%) and Black (5.65%) pupils had the highest rates of temporary exclusions (equivalent to 573 and 565 exclusions per 10,000 pupils respectively)
  • for White British pupils the rate of temporary exclusions was 5.23%, equivalent to 523 temporary exclusions per 10,000 pupils

Permanent exclusions by ethnicity

Location:
England
Time period:
2016/17
Source:
Permanent and fixed-period exclusions in England: 2016 to 2017

Data withheld to protect confidentiality

Download chart (PNG)

Number and percentage of permanent exclusions within each ethnic group

Ethnicity Exclusions %
Asian 310 0.04
Bangladeshi 40 0.03
Indian 50 0.02
Pakistani 185 0.05
Asian other 30 0.02
Black 620 0.14
Black African 270 0.09
Black Caribbean 260 0.28
Black other 90 0.15
Chinese withheld to protect confidentiality withheld to protect confidentiality
Mixed 635 0.14
Mixed White/Asian 95 0.09
Mixed White/Black African 70 0.11
Mixed White/Black Caribbean 285 0.24
Mixed other 185 0.11
White 5,895 0.10
White British 5,470 0.10
White Irish 35 0.14
Gypsy/Roma 90 0.36
Irish traveller 25 0.45
White other 275 0.06
Other 100 0.07
Unknown 155 0.18

Data withheld to protect confidentiality

Download table data (CSV) Source data (CSV)

Summary

This data shows that:

  • in 2016/17, Traveller of Irish Heritage pupils and Gypsy/Roma pupils had the highest rates of permanent exclusions, at 0.45% and 0.36% respectively (equivalent to 45 and 36 permanent exclusions for every 10,000 pupils from each group)
  • the lowest rates of permanent exclusions were found among pupils from the Indian (0.02%) and Any Other Asian (0.02%) ethnic groups (equivalent to 2 permanent exclusions per 10,000 pupils from each group)
  • for White British pupils, the rate for permanent exclusions was 0.10% (equivalent to 10 permanent exclusions per 10,000 pupils)

Temporary exclusions by ethnicity and type of school

Location:
England
Time period:
2016/17
Source:
Permanent and fixed-period exclusions in England: 2016 to 2017

Data withheld to protect confidentiality

Download chart (PNG)

Number and percentage of temporary exclusions by ethnicity and type of school

Primary Secondary Special
Ethnicity Exclusions % Exclusions % Exclusions %
Asian 1,370 0.27 14,060 4.07 250 2.29
Bangladeshi 175 0.22 2,370 4.16 60 3.41
Indian 185 0.13 1,780 1.87 25 1.32
Pakistani 805 0.39 8,155 5.96 110 2.08
Asian other 200 0.24 1,760 3.10 50 2.83
Black 4,265 1.62 20,335 11.14 960 12.65
Black African 2,080 1.16 10,340 8.80 230 4.89
Black Caribbean 1,570 3.26 7,345 17.15 535 31.94
Black other 620 1.72 2,650 11.98 195 16.04
Chinese 45 0.20 155 1.19 withheld to protect confidentiality withheld to protect confidentiality
Mixed 5,295 1.88 19,035 11.87 1,350 21.85
Mixed White/Asian 575 0.86 2,680 7.18 105 9.52
Mixed White/Black African 720 1.84 2,465 12.51 110 13.81
Mixed White/Black Caribbean 2,570 3.52 8,350 18.61 675 35.53
Mixed other 1,430 1.39 5,540 9.48 460 19.38
White 52,355 1.50 239,605 9.90 11,765 13.99
White British 49,080 1.57 223,795 10.01 11,390 14.38
White Irish 140 1.13 980 9.18 40 13.10
Gypsy/Roma 840 4.83 3,500 45.10 75 20.16
Irish traveller 355 7.69 555 52.17 60 51.24
White other 1,935 0.60 10,780 6.56 190 4.74
Other 515 0.57 3,960 7.16 95 5.42
Unknown 500 1.32 5,740 12.25 220 15.42

Data withheld to protect confidentiality

Download table data (CSV) Source data (CSV)

Summary

This data shows that:

  • in 2016/17, within each ethnic group, the temporary exclusion rates were higher in secondary schools than in primary schools
  • Traveller of Irish Heritage pupils had the highest rate of temporary exclusions at each type of school compared with all other ethnic groups – 7.69% at primary schools, 51.24% at special schools and 52.17% at secondary schools
  • among the broad ethnic groups, Mixed ethnicity pupils had the highest rate of temporary exclusions – 1.88% at primary schools, 11.87% at secondary schools and 21.85% at special schools
  • after Traveller of Irish Heritage pupils, Mixed White and Asian pupils had the next highest rate of temporary exclusions in special schools, at 35.53% - equivalent to 3,553 temporary exclusions per 10,000 pupils

Permanent exclusions by ethnicity and type of school

Location:
England
Time period:
2016/17
Source:
Permanent and fixed-period exclusions in England: 2016 to 2017

Data withheld to protect confidentiality

Download chart (PNG)

Number and percentage of permanent exclusions by ethnicity and type of school

Primary Secondary Special
Ethnicity Exclusions % Exclusions % Exclusions %
Asian 15 0.00 290 0.08 5 0.03
Bangladeshi 0 0.00 40 0.07 withheld to protect confidentiality withheld to protect confidentiality
Indian 0 0.00 50 0.05 0 0.00
Pakistani 15 0.01 170 0.12 withheld to protect confidentiality withheld to protect confidentiality
Asian other withheld to protect confidentiality withheld to protect confidentiality 25 0.05 withheld to protect confidentiality withheld to protect confidentiality
Black 80 0.03 530 0.29 5 0.08
Black African 35 0.02 235 0.20 withheld to protect confidentiality withheld to protect confidentiality
Black Caribbean 30 0.07 225 0.53 5 0.24
Black other 15 0.04 70 0.33 withheld to protect confidentiality withheld to protect confidentiality
Chinese 0 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality withheld to protect confidentiality 0 0.00
Mixed 115 0.04 510 0.32 10 0.15
Mixed White/Asian 10 0.02 85 0.23 0 0.00
Mixed White/Black African 15 0.04 50 0.26 0 0.00
Mixed White/Black Caribbean 55 0.08 225 0.50 5 0.16
Mixed other 35 0.03 145 0.25 5 0.25
White 1,015 0.03 4,820 0.20 60 0.07
White British 955 0.03 4,455 0.20 55 0.07
White Irish withheld to protect confidentiality withheld to protect confidentiality 30 0.29 0 0.00
Gypsy/Roma 20 0.10 75 0.94 0 0.00
Irish traveller 10 0.24 15 1.42 0 0.00
White other 30 0.01 245 0.15 5 0.10
Other 5 0.01 90 0.17 withheld to protect confidentiality withheld to protect confidentiality
Unknown 15 0.04 140 0.30 5 0.21

Data withheld to protect confidentiality

Download table data (CSV) Source data (CSV)

Summary

This data shows that:

  • in 2016/17, all ethnic groups had higher permanent exclusion rates in secondary school than in primary school
  • the highest rates of permanent exclusions were for Traveller of Irish Heritage pupils, at 0.24% in primary schools (or 24 exclusions per 10,000 pupils) and 1.42% in secondary schools (or 142 exclusions per 10,000 pupils) – however, these figures are based on very small numbers of pupils so are less reliable than for ethnic groups with larger populations
  • Black Caribbean pupils had the second highest rate of permanent exclusions at special school (0.24%, or 24 exclusions per 10,000 pupils), and the fourth highest rates of permanent exclusion at primary school (0.07%, or 7 exclusions per 10,000 pupils)
  • for Black Caribbean pupils the rate of permanent exclusions from secondary school was 0.53% (or 53 exclusions per 10,000 pupils), while for Mixed White and Black Caribbean pupils it was 0.50% (or 50 exclusions per 10,000 pupils) – the highest rates for this category after Traveller of Irish Heritage and Gypsy/Roma pupils

Temporary exclusions by ethnicity and local authority

Location:
England
Time period:
2016/17
Source:
Permanent and fixed-period exclusions in England: 2016 to 2017

Percentage of temporary exclusions by ethnicity and local authority

Local authority Asian Black Chinese Mixed White Other
% % % % % %
City of London 0.00 0.00 0.00 6.52 0.00 0.00
Camden 2.44 6.92 0.00 5.02 4.19 4.11
Greenwich 1.52 5.78 withheld to protect confidentiality 6.25 6.51 2.18
Hackney 2.16 8.65 withheld to protect confidentiality 6.70 3.65 3.74
Hammersmith and Fulham 3.51 7.20 3.80 5.21 3.73 4.35
Islington 1.46 6.25 0.00 6.55 5.27 2.24
Kensington and Chelsea 3.77 8.49 withheld to protect confidentiality 5.38 3.52 5.99
Lambeth 0.51 5.20 0.00 3.76 1.30 1.34
Lewisham 1.02 7.06 withheld to protect confidentiality 4.57 2.39 1.99
Southwark 1.18 5.07 withheld to protect confidentiality 4.85 2.79 1.72
Tower Hamlets 1.86 3.51 withheld to protect confidentiality 4.02 4.09 0.92
Wandsworth 0.77 5.57 withheld to protect confidentiality 4.25 1.35 2.60
Westminster 2.49 8.45 withheld to protect confidentiality 5.91 2.70 6.49
Barking and Dagenham 0.54 2.17 withheld to protect confidentiality 2.54 2.23 1.26
Barnet 1.17 5.79 withheld to protect confidentiality 4.69 2.79 3.27
Bexley 1.25 4.76 1.80 5.41 5.59 3.35
Brent 1.18 7.84 0.00 4.90 2.34 3.65
Bromley 0.38 3.10 0.00 3.11 2.60 1.46
Croydon 0.76 6.06 0.00 4.34 2.92 2.27
Ealing 1.22 5.98 withheld to protect confidentiality 5.12 2.93 2.90
Enfield 1.09 7.64 withheld to protect confidentiality 5.94 4.43 4.46
Haringey 1.39 6.08 0.00 4.58 2.46 3.03
Harrow 0.88 5.78 withheld to protect confidentiality 3.36 2.38 5.05
Havering 1.05 5.77 1.49 3.51 3.61 5.33
Hillingdon 0.94 5.02 withheld to protect confidentiality 3.03 4.68 2.25
Hounslow 0.97 6.94 0.00 5.50 5.56 3.27
Kingston upon Thames 0.82 3.52 0.00 2.82 1.51 1.05
Merton 0.74 4.75 2.02 4.26 3.77 1.37
Newham 1.72 5.87 0.00 6.89 4.64 2.79
Redbridge 1.65 6.98 0.00 5.04 2.80 2.58
Richmond upon Thames 1.29 7.34 withheld to protect confidentiality 4.08 2.47 2.25
Sutton 0.70 4.61 withheld to protect confidentiality 3.01 4.08 4.11
Waltham Forest 2.13 7.33 0.00 5.38 3.63 3.84
Birmingham 2.34 6.97 withheld to protect confidentiality 6.88 5.04 2.78
Coventry 1.12 4.35 withheld to protect confidentiality 9.89 6.71 1.64
Dudley 1.99 6.69 0.00 7.75 4.96 5.08
Sandwell 1.55 6.76 0.00 7.98 5.11 1.70
Solihull 2.41 10.31 2.76 8.89 4.04 4.07
Walsall 1.34 3.82 withheld to protect confidentiality 6.23 5.13 2.76
Wolverhampton 1.47 6.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 7.06 4.18 4.68
Knowsley withheld to protect confidentiality 3.05 0.00 3.19 5.87 withheld to protect confidentiality
Liverpool 0.88 3.82 0.63 5.36 4.21 3.06
St. Helens 1.67 6.42 0.00 7.00 6.14 withheld to protect confidentiality
Sefton 1.20 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 3.14 2.90 withheld to protect confidentiality
Wirral 0.92 2.35 1.14 4.79 5.08 2.17
Bolton 1.51 3.21 2.82 5.88 7.44 3.55
Bury 1.92 6.78 2.46 10.56 6.36 3.88
Manchester 1.74 6.66 withheld to protect confidentiality 7.18 7.72 3.56
Oldham 2.79 1.79 0.00 6.31 4.98 3.37
Rochdale 1.67 2.69 withheld to protect confidentiality 6.85 5.06 2.28
Salford 0.99 1.60 0.00 2.46 4.64 1.43
Stockport 1.30 4.30 0.00 6.14 4.29 4.36
Tameside 2.90 7.49 0.00 10.08 7.58 3.31
Trafford 1.52 5.89 withheld to protect confidentiality 5.01 2.90 1.77
Wigan 2.65 1.34 0.00 3.99 4.08 withheld to protect confidentiality
Barnsley 0.00 8.73 0.00 5.89 17.20 13.28
Doncaster 5.50 9.56 2.63 13.99 21.40 14.83
Rotherham 4.97 3.32 withheld to protect confidentiality 9.82 8.42 2.27
Sheffield 2.70 4.63 0.00 12.81 9.61 5.55
Bradford 2.42 5.95 0.00 5.53 4.22 1.82
Calderdale 2.85 3.38 0.00 6.25 5.35 2.50
Kirklees 1.82 8.92 0.00 9.88 6.61 8.26
Leeds 2.98 3.74 0.00 6.75 6.92 2.00
Wakefield 2.11 3.43 2.78 6.33 9.19 0.00
Gateshead 4.05 6.83 0.00 2.30 5.38 2.32
Newcastle upon Tyne 1.21 1.13 0.00 3.90 4.36 1.30
North Tyneside 1.44 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 1.09 2.77 4.05
South Tyneside 1.32 2.61 0.00 3.50 3.78 withheld to protect confidentiality
Sunderland 0.37 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 2.23 3.02 0.00
Isles Of Scilly N/A* N/A* N/A* 0.00 0.00 N/A*
Bath and North East Somerset withheld to protect confidentiality 10.59 withheld to protect confidentiality 10.51 5.31 3.42
Bristol City of 2.06 8.10 1.20 9.53 9.49 3.20
North Somerset 1.90 6.67 withheld to protect confidentiality 4.10 3.40 0.00
South Gloucestershire 1.56 7.58 withheld to protect confidentiality 9.84 6.01 2.94
Hartlepool 1.10 4.55 0.00 6.95 10.15 0.00
Middlesbrough 3.66 5.29 0.00 7.87 22.11 3.68
Redcar and Cleveland 8.11 0.00 0.00 6.65 11.16 0.00
Stockton-on-Tees 2.58 0.86 0.00 4.40 9.21 6.61
Kingston upon Hull City of 1.75 1.36 0.00 1.71 3.80 0.93
East Riding of Yorkshire 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.08 3.55 2.51
North East Lincolnshire withheld to protect confidentiality 6.90 0.00 10.10 7.38 withheld to protect confidentiality
North Lincolnshire 4.09 12.40 0.00 3.28 9.36 12.33
North Yorkshire 1.67 1.96 0.00 5.04 5.71 0.00
York 0.60 3.94 0.00 4.35 3.32 2.05
Luton 3.32 7.08 0.00 10.01 6.85 4.09
Bedford 2.35 3.69 0.00 6.23 3.38 2.45
Central Bedfordshire 2.16 4.04 0.00 6.19 3.84 4.89
Buckinghamshire 3.43 7.75 withheld to protect confidentiality 6.69 3.35 2.46
Milton Keynes 1.11 3.57 withheld to protect confidentiality 5.31 5.88 2.14
Derbyshire 2.25 3.58 0.00 4.41 4.48 10.80
Derby 2.25 5.27 withheld to protect confidentiality 6.52 5.60 2.47
Dorset 1.45 3.39 withheld to protect confidentiality 6.66 4.96 13.79
Poole withheld to protect confidentiality 2.86 0.00 2.42 4.32 0.00
Bournemouth 0.91 5.26 withheld to protect confidentiality 7.90 7.76 3.86
Durham 1.54 2.11 0.00 1.86 4.14 1.83
Darlington 2.90 0.00 0.00 7.18 8.33 2.88
East Sussex 0.80 5.26 2.07 6.62 5.94 3.88
Brighton and Hove 0.98 5.56 0.00 5.88 5.79 4.20
Hampshire 0.71 3.58 withheld to protect confidentiality 4.33 4.39 1.69
Portsmouth 1.17 2.49 0.00 10.34 7.80 withheld to protect confidentiality
Southampton 1.11 5.16 0.00 4.90 5.02 withheld to protect confidentiality
Leicestershire 0.82 6.57 0.00 4.53 3.18 0.84
Leicester 1.15 4.55 withheld to protect confidentiality 6.22 5.49 0.41
Rutland 0.00 13.79 0.00 2.07 1.94 0.00
Staffordshire 2.66 5.60 0.88 7.20 4.55 2.61
Stoke-on-Trent 5.23 2.30 withheld to protect confidentiality 10.13 7.11 3.96
Wiltshire 0.61 2.51 0.00 6.17 4.10 4.33
Swindon 1.20 3.12 0.00 5.87 5.27 5.54
Bracknell Forest 1.02 1.85 withheld to protect confidentiality 6.61 5.18 withheld to protect confidentiality
Windsor and Maidenhead 3.01 6.90 0.00 3.38 3.61 3.47
West Berkshire 1.56 5.56 withheld to protect confidentiality 10.11 4.29 5.52
Reading 1.34 5.95 withheld to protect confidentiality 11.19 5.62 1.47
Slough 2.07 4.34 0.00 5.79 4.35 1.98
Wokingham 1.42 3.97 0.00 3.86 2.49 withheld to protect confidentiality
Cambridgeshire 1.01 8.02 0.67 5.04 3.76 1.16
Peterborough 2.32 2.22 0.00 4.07 4.06 2.61
Halton 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.07 4.48 0.00
Warrington 0.55 5.17 0.00 1.64 2.59 2.05
Devon 0.65 1.92 withheld to protect confidentiality 6.59 3.99 1.23
Plymouth 1.02 1.83 withheld to protect confidentiality 3.26 4.37 2.40
Torbay withheld to protect confidentiality withheld to protect confidentiality withheld to protect confidentiality 6.68 5.97 withheld to protect confidentiality
Essex 1.07 4.34 0.97 4.60 4.07 1.43
Southend-on-Sea 1.61 5.77 7.98 4.11 5.74 5.83
Thurrock 0.84 1.46 0.00 1.76 2.18 0.00
Herefordshire 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 2.86 3.78 withheld to protect confidentiality
Worcestershire 2.27 5.21 0.00 5.42 3.54 2.14
Kent 0.92 4.23 0.37 4.18 4.64 2.06
Medway 0.54 3.33 6.29 6.03 7.24 1.14
Lancashire 2.41 4.98 0.00 4.62 4.64 1.84
Blackburn with Darwen 0.94 2.30 0.00 3.83 3.47 4.00
Blackpool 0.76 7.58 withheld to protect confidentiality 13.09 8.03 0.00
Nottinghamshire 1.54 5.59 withheld to protect confidentiality 6.24 5.55 3.44
Nottingham 2.39 5.59 0.00 7.88 8.15 6.78
Shropshire 0.00 4.72 0.00 4.01 4.51 0.00
Telford and Wrekin 5.12 5.02 8.94 12.33 14.22 0.00
Cheshire East 1.30 6.74 0.00 3.08 4.08 3.60
Cheshire West and Chester withheld to protect confidentiality 4.22 0.00 3.40 2.83 withheld to protect confidentiality
Cornwall withheld to protect confidentiality 4.69 0.00 3.41 3.48 3.78
Cumbria 0.69 4.55 0.00 3.97 5.29 1.56
Gloucestershire 1.04 7.55 0.00 7.82 4.32 1.34
Hertfordshire 1.45 5.58 withheld to protect confidentiality 4.87 4.44 3.94
Isle of Wight 0.00 0.00 0.00 4.99 6.15 0.00
Lincolnshire 0.92 4.45 withheld to protect confidentiality 3.43 4.84 1.83
Norfolk 0.83 4.51 1.15 5.72 4.74 0.75
Northamptonshire 1.48 4.64 0.00 6.66 4.70 1.95
Northumberland 1.23 0.00 0.00 4.13 3.96 0.00
Oxfordshire 2.06 5.99 0.86 6.19 4.51 2.22
Somerset 2.48 1.49 withheld to protect confidentiality 7.56 7.31 1.96
Suffolk 0.72 3.93 0.00 5.37 4.53 1.31
Surrey 1.37 3.72 1.20 3.56 3.61 2.93
Warwickshire 0.74 2.43 0.00 4.93 3.49 2.00
West Sussex 1.94 5.54 withheld to protect confidentiality 4.60 3.87 5.36

* Not applicable Data withheld to protect confidentiality

Download table data (CSV) Source data (CSV)

Summary

This data shows that, for each ethnic group, the highest rate of temporary exclusions was as follows:

  • for Asian pupils it was in Redcar and Cleveland at 8.11%
  • for Black pupils it was in Rutland at 13.79%
  • for pupils from the Chinese ethnic group it was in Telford and Wrekin at 8.94%
  • for pupils from a Mixed ethnic background it was in Doncaster at 13.99%
  • for White pupils it was in Middlesbrough at 22.11%
  • for pupils from the Other ethnic group it was in Doncaster at 14.83%

Permanent exclusions by ethnicity and local authority

Location:
England
Time period:
2016/17
Source:
Permanent and fixed-period exclusions in England: 2016 to 2017

Percentage of permanent exclusions by ethnicity and local authority

Local authority Asian Black Chinese Mixed White Other
% % % % % %
Barking and Dagenham withheld to protect confidentiality 0.12 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.07 0.00
Barnet withheld to protect confidentiality 0.13 0.00 0.09 0.08 withheld to protect confidentiality
Barnsley 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.07 0.00
Bath and North East Somerset 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.24 0.09 0.00
Bedford 0.19 0.33 0.00 0.38 0.18 0.00
Bexley withheld to protect confidentiality withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.11 0.00
Birmingham 0.05 0.18 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.19 0.17 0.08
Blackburn with Darwen withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 withheld to protect confidentiality
Blackpool 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.70 0.21 0.00
Bolton 0.07 0.11 0.00 0.32 0.19 withheld to protect confidentiality
Bournemouth 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.19 0.16 withheld to protect confidentiality
Bracknell Forest 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.00
Bradford 0.02 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.06 0.00
Brent 0.03 0.20 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.03 withheld to protect confidentiality
Brighton and Hove 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.10 0.05 0.00
Bristol City of 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.03 withheld to protect confidentiality
Bromley withheld to protect confidentiality 0.20 0.00 0.21 0.12 0.00
Buckinghamshire 0.10 0.37 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.24 0.13 0.00
Bury 0.12 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.97 0.28 0.00
Calderdale 0.07 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.29 0.10 withheld to protect confidentiality
Cambridgeshire 0.00 0.00 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.01 0.00
Camden 0.00 0.22 0.00 0.22 0.13 withheld to protect confidentiality
Central Bedfordshire withheld to protect confidentiality withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.13 0.10 0.00
Cheshire East 0.00 0.00 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.06 0.00
Cheshire West and Chester 0.00 0.00 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.06 0.00
City of London 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Cornwall 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.19 0.11 withheld to protect confidentiality
Coventry withheld to protect confidentiality 0.12 0.00 0.31 0.12 withheld to protect confidentiality
Croydon 0.00 0.12 0.00 0.07 0.06 withheld to protect confidentiality
Cumbria 0.00 0.00 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.10 withheld to protect confidentiality
Darlington 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00
Derby 0.05 0.00 0.00 0.10 0.11 0.00
Derbyshire withheld to protect confidentiality withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.21 0.12 0.00
Devon 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.14 0.00
Doncaster 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00
Dorset 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.06 0.00
Dudley 0.14 0.59 0.00 0.44 0.24 withheld to protect confidentiality
Durham 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.10 0.00
Ealing 0.04 0.29 0.00 0.24 0.13 0.16
East Riding of Yorkshire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.07 0.00
East Sussex 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.10 0.11 0.00
Enfield 0.00 0.20 0.00 0.10 0.04 withheld to protect confidentiality
Essex 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.07 0.05 0.00
Gateshead withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.27 0.00
Gloucestershire withheld to protect confidentiality 0.66 0.00 0.49 0.13 0.00
Greenwich 0.00 0.03 0.00 0.09 0.02 0.00
Hackney withheld to protect confidentiality 0.20 0.00 0.11 0.09 withheld to protect confidentiality
Halton 0.00 0.00 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.22 0.00
Hammersmith and Fulham 0.00 0.10 0.00 0.12 0.07 withheld to protect confidentiality
Hampshire 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.00
Haringey withheld to protect confidentiality 0.11 0.00 0.14 0.05 0.20
Harrow withheld to protect confidentiality 0.41 0.00 0.10 0.12 withheld to protect confidentiality
Hartlepool 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.12 0.00
Havering 0.16 0.22 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.09 withheld to protect confidentiality
Herefordshire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.08 0.00
Hertfordshire 0.03 0.12 0.00 0.09 0.06 0.23
Hillingdon 0.02 0.20 0.00 0.07 0.16 withheld to protect confidentiality
Hounslow 0.02 0.14 0.00 0.20 0.15 0.07
Isle of Wight 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.00
Isles Of Scilly N/A* N/A* N/A* 0.00 0.00 N/A*
Islington 0.00 0.19 0.00 0.13 0.15 withheld to protect confidentiality
Kensington and Chelsea withheld to protect confidentiality 0.27 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.14 0.19
Kent withheld to protect confidentiality 0.05 0.00 0.05 0.02 0.00
Kingston upon Hull City of 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.15 0.00
Kingston upon Thames withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.00 0.20 0.05 0.00
Kirklees withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.00 0.09 0.05 withheld to protect confidentiality
Knowsley 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.00
Lambeth withheld to protect confidentiality 0.11 0.00 0.08 0.05 withheld to protect confidentiality
Lancashire 0.11 0.00 0.00 0.33 0.22 withheld to protect confidentiality
Leeds 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.01 0.00
Leicester 0.01 0.00 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.05 0.00
Leicestershire withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.00 0.07 0.03 0.00
Lewisham 0.00 0.22 0.00 0.13 0.09 0.00
Lincolnshire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.18 0.11 0.00
Liverpool withheld to protect confidentiality 0.22 0.00 0.32 0.23 0.12
Luton 0.05 0.17 0.00 0.29 0.21 withheld to protect confidentiality
Manchester 0.02 0.13 0.00 0.11 0.19 0.10
Medway 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.15 0.15 0.00
Merton withheld to protect confidentiality 0.09 0.00 0.09 0.04 0.00
Middlesbrough 0.00 0.00 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.13 0.00
Milton Keynes withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.00 0.11 0.06 0.00
Newcastle upon Tyne withheld to protect confidentiality withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.19 0.14 0.00
Newham 0.03 0.12 0.00 0.15 0.12 withheld to protect confidentiality
Norfolk withheld to protect confidentiality 0.29 0.00 0.18 0.18 0.00
North East Lincolnshire 0.00 0.00 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.17 0.00
North Lincolnshire 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.00 0.11 0.00
North Somerset 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.15 0.00
North Tyneside 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 withheld to protect confidentiality
North Yorkshire 0.00 0.00 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.11 0.00
Northamptonshire withheld to protect confidentiality 0.13 0.00 0.17 0.11 withheld to protect confidentiality
Northumberland 0.00 0.00 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.14 0.00
Nottingham 0.05 0.18 0.00 0.41 0.21 withheld to protect confidentiality
Nottinghamshire withheld to protect confidentiality withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.14 0.04 0.00
Oldham 0.09 0.00 0.00 0.22 0.14 0.00
Oxfordshire 0.00 0.12 0.00 0.07 0.05 0.00
Peterborough 0.06 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.00 0.08 0.00
Plymouth 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.00
Poole 0.00 0.00 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.13 0.00
Portsmouth 0.00 0.00 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.06 0.00
Reading withheld to protect confidentiality withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.48 0.16 0.00
Redbridge 0.03 0.25 0.00 0.14 0.06 0.00
Redcar and Cleveland withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.05 0.00
Richmond upon Thames 0.00 0.00 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.06 0.00
Rochdale 0.03 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.26 0.23 0.00
Rotherham 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.07 0.00
Rutland 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.13 0.00
Salford 0.00 0.16 0.00 0.12 0.20 0.00
Sandwell 0.02 0.26 0.00 0.27 0.15 0.00
Sefton withheld to protect confidentiality withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.00 0.10 0.00
Sheffield 0.03 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.30 0.17 withheld to protect confidentiality
Shropshire 0.00 0.00 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.13 0.00
Slough 0.03 0.16 0.00 0.15 0.13 withheld to protect confidentiality
Solihull 0.07 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.31 0.18 withheld to protect confidentiality
Somerset 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.30 0.13 0.00
South Gloucestershire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.21 0.09 0.00
South Tyneside withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.21 0.00
Southampton withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.07 0.00
Southend-on-Sea 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.07 0.00
Southwark withheld to protect confidentiality 0.11 0.00 0.08 0.07 0.10
St. Helens 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00
Staffordshire 0.08 0.37 0.00 0.29 0.16 withheld to protect confidentiality
Stockport 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.14 0.11 withheld to protect confidentiality
Stockton-on-Tees withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.07 0.00
Stoke-on-Trent 0.16 0.00 0.00 0.34 0.15 0.00
Suffolk withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.00 0.15 0.09 0.00
Sunderland 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.08 0.00
Surrey 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.03 0.04 0.00
Sutton withheld to protect confidentiality withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.07 0.00
Swindon withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.00 0.16 0.16 withheld to protect confidentiality
Tameside 0.10 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.18 0.22 0.00
Telford and Wrekin withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.04 0.00
Thurrock 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.10 0.00
Torbay 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.17 0.00
Tower Hamlets 0.01 0.09 0.00 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00
Trafford 0.05 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.28 0.13 0.51
Wakefield withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.00 0.27 0.14 0.00
Walsall 0.04 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.26 0.17 0.00
Waltham Forest withheld to protect confidentiality 0.11 0.00 0.06 0.03 0.00
Wandsworth 0.05 0.22 0.00 0.12 0.04 0.00
Warrington 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00
Warwickshire 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.08 0.08 0.00
West Berkshire 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.40 0.12 0.00
West Sussex 0.07 0.36 0.00 0.12 0.10 0.65
Westminster 0.00 0.07 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality withheld to protect confidentiality withheld to protect confidentiality
Wigan 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00
Wiltshire 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00
Windsor and Maidenhead withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.10 0.00
Wirral 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.22 0.12 0.00
Wokingham 0.18 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.11 0.00
Wolverhampton 0.03 0.25 0.00 0.33 0.21 withheld to protect confidentiality
Worcestershire withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00 0.00 0.18 0.12 withheld to protect confidentiality
York 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 withheld to protect confidentiality 0.00

* Not applicable Data withheld to protect confidentiality

Download table data (CSV) Source data (CSV)

Summary

This data shows that:

  • in 2016/17, the highest permanent exclusion rate for Asian pupils was in Bedford at 0.19%
  • the highest permanent exclusion rate for Black pupils was in Gloucestershire at 0.66%
  • for pupils from the Chinese ethnic group, where data is available the permanent exclusion rate is 0.00% in every local authority (rounded to two decimal places) – data is not provided for the some local authorities to preserve confidentiality where numbers are very small (fewer than 5 pupils)
  • the highest permanent exclusion rate for pupils from a Mixed ethnic background was 0.97%, in Bury
  • the highest permanent exclusion rate for White pupils was 0.28% in Bury
  • the highest permanent exclusion rate for pupils from the Other ethnic group was in West Sussex at 0.65%

Methodology

Methodology

Exclusions are reported by schools and collected through the school census every term. Rates are calculated using the number of registered pupils as of the spring census (taken in January).

Schools monitor attendance and absence in a consistent way. You can see the codes they use in Annex C of the Department for Education’s Guide to exclusion statistics.

Both the number and rate of exclusions are included in published exclusions data. Rates of exclusion are a more appropriate measure for comparisons over time as they take into account changes in the total number of pupils across different academic years.

Suppression rules and disclosure control

Enrolment numbers at national and regional levels are rounded to the nearest 5.

Local authority totals across school types are also rounded to the nearest 5 to prevent any suppressed values being disclosed.

Enrolment numbers of less than 3 and rates based on fewer than 3 pupil enrolments have been suppressed. This is because, where the size of the ethnic group population is small enough that an individual’s identity could be revealed, information is suppressed to preserve confidentiality. The Code of Practice for Official Statistics requires DfE to take reasonable steps to ensure that their published or disseminated statistics protect confidentiality.

For more information about DfE’s disclosure control procedures for its statistical releases please see DfE’s statistical policy statement on confidentiality (PDF).

Rounding

Enrolment numbers at national and regional levels are rounded to the nearest 5.

Local authority totals across school types are also rounded to the nearest 5 to prevent disclosure of any suppressed values.

Related publications

Schools, pupils and their characteristics: January 2017

Exclusion statistics guide

Quality and methodology information

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 absence and the reasons for it.

Download the data

Pupil Exclusions England - Spreadsheet (csv) 41 KB

This file contains the following variables: Measure, year, level, country_code, country_name, school_type, characteristic_desc, Ethnicity, Ethnicity_type, headcount, num_excl, Value

Pupil Exclusions Local authorities 2016_17 - Spreadsheet (csv) 8 MB

This file contains the following variables: measure, year, level, country_code, country, region_code, region, new_la_code, old_la_code, la_name, school_type, characteristic_desc, ethnicity, headcount, num_excl, value

Publication release date: 28 September 2018

Updated: 10 October 2018

full page history
  1. Bug fixed in table 'Percentage of permanent exclusions by ethnicity and local authority'
  2. Update with latest data (2016/17)

From: Department for Education

Previous edition:
  1. 1 March 2018

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