ABSTRACT
Research has recently shown a significant and marked increase in rates of exclusion from schools. Far more truants-especially disruptive truants-are excluded from schools than has been the case in the past, possibly due to the introduction of league tables and more regular OFSTED reports. In 1997, 12, 500 secondary pupils were excluded-a rise of 13 per cent. Exclusions from primary schools have also risen fast —by 18 per cent in 1997 to 1,400 pupils. Some educationalists believe that the number of exclusions is too high, with some schools being too ready to get rid of difficult pupils. The growth of permanent exclusions in primary schools and amongst black children are particular concerns. Black pupils make up a disproportionate number of those expelled. The percentage of all black children expelled is 0.66. This is more than three times the percentage of white children (0.18), and six times that of pupils from the Indian subcontinent (0.11). Boys accounted for 83 per cent of all exclusions, of which 78 per cent are aged between 12 and 15 and nearly half are aged 14 or 15. Eighty-three per cent of all excluded pupils emanate from mainstream secondary schools. Special schools account for 5 per cent of exclusions and are four times more likely to be excluded.
