‘Internal exclusion’ of England secondary school students almost triples in three years
Summary
The number of secondary school students in England who are removed from class and placed in “internal exclusion” has nearly tripled over three years, rising from 5% in 2022/23 to 13% in 2025/26. This disciplinary method affects disadvantaged children and those with special educational needs disproportionately and involves keeping students in school but separated from their normal lessons.Key Facts
- Internal exclusion means students stay on school grounds but are separated from their regular classes, unlike suspensions that send students home.
- The percentage of secondary students placed in internal exclusion rose from 5% to 13% in three years (2022/23 to 2025/26).
- More than 22% of disadvantaged students experienced internal exclusion in 2025/26, up from 8% three years prior.
- About 18% of students with special educational needs and disabilities and an education, health and care plan were internally excluded at least once.
- Internal exclusions are lower in primary schools, affecting fewer than 1% of students annually.
- Data comes from Arbor, a system used by 13,000 schools in England; official government data does not track internal exclusions.
- Some experts see internal exclusion as a way to manage behavior and keep students in school, while others raise concerns about its impact on mental health and learning loss.
- Formal suspensions and exclusions have decreased, but internal exclusions have increased, highlighting a need for better data and understanding.
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