Figures have revealed which schools in South east London excluded pupils most often last year.

These figures include both permanent and temporary exclusions.

The average exclusion rate across the whole of England stands at 4.3 per 100 students and every South east London borough remained below this average.

Here is a list of the South east London boroughs and their exclusion figures:

 

Bexley

There were a total of 1,518 permanent or temporary exclusions across the 81 state schools in Bexley in the 2020-21 academic year.

This is a rate of 3.5 exclusions for every 100 pupils.

However, of the 77 schools in the area with at least 100 pupils, this rate was highest at Welling School – a state-funded secondary school.

The schools with the highest exclusion rates in Bexley in 2020-21 were:

  • Welling School, a state-funded secondary – 15.7 exclusions per 100 pupils
  • Harris Garrard Academy, a state-funded secondary – 10.2
  • Haberdashers' Aske's Crayford Academy, a state-funded secondary – 8.4
  • St. Paul's (Slade Green) Church of England Primary School, a state-funded primary – 7.9

 

Lewisham

There were a total of 1,454 permanent or temporary exclusions across the 84 state schools in Lewisham in the 2020-21 academic year.

This is a rate of 3.7 exclusions for every 100 pupils.

Of the 83 schools in the area, this rate was highest at Conisborough College – a state-funded secondary school.

The institution ordered no permanent exclusions but carried out 124 temporary exclusions.

32 schools in Lewisham did not exclude a single pupil.

The schools with the highest exclusion rates in Lewisham in 2020-21 were:

  • Conisborough College, a state-funded secondary – 14.4 exclusions per 100 pupils
  • Haberdashers' Aske's Knights Academy, a state-funded secondary – 13.3
  • Bonus Pastor Catholic College, a state-funded secondary – 12.1
  • Sedgehill Academy, a state-funded secondary – 11.5
  • St Matthew Academy, a state-funded secondary – 11.4

 

Bromley

There were a total of 1,454 permanent or temporary exclusions across the 100 state schools in Bromley in the 2020-21 academic year.

This works out at a rate of 2.8 exclusions for every 100 pupils.

31 schools in the area did not exclude a single pupil.

The schools with the highest exclusion rates in Bromley in 2020-21 were:

  • Kemnal Technology College, a state-funded secondary – 25.7
  • Eden Park High School, a state-funded secondary – 13.4
  • Harris Academy Orpington, a state-funded secondary – 11.1
  • Coopers School, a state-funded secondary – 9.1

 

Greenwich

There were a total of 1,624 permanent or temporary exclusions across the 84 state schools in Greenwich in the 2020-21 academic year.

This works out at a rate of 3.7 exclusions for every 100 pupils.

However, of the 81 schools in the area with at least 100 pupils, this rate was highest at Ark Greenwich Free School – a state-funded secondary school.

The secondary free school ordered one permanent exclusion and 129 temporary exclusions – a rate of 21.8 per 100 pupils.

25 schools in the area did not exclude a single pupil.

Around 37% of schools across England did not suspend or permanently exclude any students in 2020-21, while almost a dozen issued more exclusions than they have pupils.

The schools with the highest exclusion rates in Greenwich in 2020-21 were:

  • Ark Greenwich Free School, a state-funded secondary – 21.8 exclusions per 100 pupils
  • Harris Academy Greenwich, a state-funded secondary – 15.4
  • Plumstead Manor School, a state-funded secondary – 11.6
  • Woolwich Polytechnic School, a state-funded secondary – 11
  • Stationers' Crown Woods Academy, a state-funded secondary – 10.3

 

The Children’s Society said there may be a number of reasons for the wide discrepancies in exclusion numbers between schools.

Iryna Pona, policy and impact manager for the organisation, said: "Behavioural issues that could lead to exclusion, are often an indicator of larger issues children are experiencing, such as unmet special educational needs, bullying, abuse or exploitation.

“Some schools may have more children that require additional support, some may lack resources or awareness and training so they don’t know how to support the child and tackle any issues before resorting to excluding.

“Whatever the reason, the numbers show that there is the lack of consistent child centred approach that allows for the needs of the child to be understood and supported across all schools in the same way that would reduce the number of exclusions."

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