Academies exclusions 'doubled'

Last year academies doubled the numbers of pupils excluded

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Exclusions from academies have more than doubled, new figures show.

The government statistics, published yesterday, show that permanent exclusions in England last year fell by 7% across primary, secondary and all special schools while temporary exclusions rose by 4% . That compares to a doubling in the numbers of temporarily exclusions in academies with permanent exclusions going up by almost half.

According to the figures , 250 pupils were permanently excluded from academies in 2006/07 compared to 160 the previous year.  A total of 9,360 children were temporarily excluded from academies in 2006/07 compared to 4,540 the previous year.

The National Union of Teachers have described the rise in academy exclusions as "uncomfortable".

Academies 'priviledged at expense of neighbouring schools'

NUT acting general secretary Christine Blower said: "While no one would want schools to be required to hold on to pupils whose behaviour is totally unacceptable it cannot be right that the government appears to be encouraging Academies to exclude in order to help their success.

"It is unacceptable that in order to boost a highly controversial government policy the government has decided to privilege academies at the expense of neighbouring schools. 

"No school wants to exclude for any other reason other than that of last resort. But at least all schools should feel that they can operate on a level playing field.

"The figures also obscure the fact that while for the majority of schools the incidences of serious misconduct have decreased compared to five years ago, for a minority the situation is getting worse. It is those schools which need significant additional support both inside and outside the school gates."