Summary
The UK government suggests that pupils who are suspended from school in England should stay on school premises instead of being sent home. The goal is to limit the amount of learning they miss by using on-site suspensions, except for those involving violent behavior. Schools can use internal suspensions to ensure students continue to learn and have time to reflect on their actions.
Key Facts
- The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, stated that suspensions at home could lead to students spending too much time on social media and games.
- The Department for Education in England wants suspensions to be short interventions with meaningful learning.
- Suspending students at home increased by 21% from 2022-23 to 2023-24, with suspension rates jumping from 9.33 to 11.31 per 100 pupils.
- Head teachers will determine how suspensions are applied, and serious or violent behavior will still lead to removal from school.
- The new suspension measures are part of broader changes in the school system, including plans to make schools phone-free.
- Pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and those eligible for free school meals face higher suspension rates.
- The most common reason for suspensions was "persistent disruptive behavior," accounting for over half of the cases in 2023-24.
- The Department for Education plans to consult on a new framework allowing non-violent pupils to learn separately under supervision.
