SCHOOLS in Bolton have reported a sharp increase in the number of pupils being thrown out of school for alcohol, drugs and sexual misconduct 'offences'.

Figures released by the department for education also show violence in the classroom is also increasing.

Schools in Bolton excluded pupils an average of 76 times a week in 2018/2019 with the number of expulsions and suspensions being handed out reaches a three year high.

Overall, local schools excluded pupils 3,956 times in 2018/19 up from 1,976 in the 2014/15 academic year.

Of these 110 pupils were expelled compared to just 10 three years ago and just under half, 47, was for persistent disruptive behaviour.

Eleven were permanently excluded for assault against an adult and 12 for attacking a pupil.

Suspensions, or fixed term exclusions, were up from 1,966 to 3,846 in the same period­ ­— with more than double dished out for drugs and alcohol related offences compared to the previous year.

Figures show that 140 suspensions were handed out for this offence compared to 63 in 2017/18.

And there was a similar picture for children being thrown out of school for sexual misconduct, with 18 notices being handed out compared to nine the year before.

The majority of fixed term exclusion notices ­— 1,355 ­—were handed out for persistent disruptive behaviour, up on 946 the previous academic year.

Statistics also show that verbal abuse or threatening behaviour in the classroom was on the rise, with 706 exclusion notices handed out for such behaviour towards an adult, compared to 629 the year before.

Attacks against pupils were also up meriting 531 suspensions up from 481.

The Bolton News:

The rise in total exclusions in Bolton reflects the trend across England, where the figure rose by seven per cent to 446,000.

Executive Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Cllr Anne Galloway, said: “We work closely with our schools to promote a safe classroom environment, and whilst exclusions have risen this reflects increases regionally.

“Tackling unacceptable behaviour is a priority for us. Everyone has a right to work and learn in a safe environment, and exclusion is only considered by schools after all else fails. Schools do not take the decision lightly and permanent exclusion is only used as a last resort.

“We dedicate a significant amount of resources to support children, their families and staff who deal with this on the front line."

Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner for England, fears there will be further exclusions as a result of children struggling to adjust to being back at school after the coronavirus lockdown.

"Excluding a child makes them more vulnerable to exploitation by criminal gangs and less likely to leave education with the qualifications they need to succeed,” she said.

A DfE spokesman said permanent exclusion should be a last resort.

He added: “We know that some pupils will return to school in September having experienced loss or adversity as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, which is why we have also provided guidance for school leaders on how to re-engage these pupils and create the right classroom environment to help them thrive.”