FOI request reveals rise in sexual misconduct exclusions

A Freedom of Information request has revealed an alarming number of school pupils have been either permanently or temporarily excluded for sexual misconduct over the last four years.

Between July 2013 and April 2017, over 8000 incidents involving senior school students were reported, with 754 in primary schools.

The data comes from 15 local authorities who released figures under the Freedom of Information Act. The majority of councils said they did not hold the information or refused to disclose it.

The bulk of exclusions were on a fixed-term basis, with children aged 14 most likely to be involved in sexual misconduct.

An NSPCC spokesman has called for the school curriculum to be updated to teach children about the dangers of sexting and online porn.

"Social media, sexting, online porn and dating apps did not exist when sex education was introduced on the curriculum a generation ago,”

"It must be dragged into the 21st century, it must be consistent, and it must be offered in every school as part of a broader PSHE curriculum."

A DfE spokeperson told the Telegraph: "Sexual assault of any kind is an offence and must always be reported to the police. Schools should be safe places and we issue safeguarding guidance to protect pupils' welfare."