A record 130 children per day are being suspended from school after breaking drink, drug or smoking rules, shocking new figures have revealed.
They show that in the year to July 2024, there were 24,554 incidents in which pupils were suspended and 742 resulting in expulsion. The statistics cover offences such as attending lessons under the influence of drink or drugs, dealing drugs, abusing prescription drugs or being repeatedly caught smoking.
Some of those disciplined were as young as six. With the school year comprising 190 days, it means 130 children were suspended and another four expelled daily – an 8 per cent increase in the 24 months ending July 2022.
This marks a huge jump on the 2021 figure of 11,343 suspensions, although that period was affected by Covid. Of the 150 local education authorities which supplied figures, Essex topped the table with 889 suspensions and 27 expulsions.
Hampshire came next with 812 (four expulsions), followed by Kent 654 (11), Surrey 594 (13) and Hertfordshire 580 (5). Staffordshire was a Midlands hotspot with figures of 487 (20), while the North saw Lancashire record 468 (38) and North Yorkshire 464 (11).
