Ofsted concerned about high exclusions in the North East

Ofsted is writing to headteachers in the North East of England after data shows the area has the highest exclusion rates in the country.

Cathryn Kirby, the inspectorate’s regional director for the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, will be expressing her concern and calling on her inspectors to pay particular attention to schools’ use of exclusions.

Middlesbrough, Barnsley, Redcar and Cleveland, Doncaster, North Lincolnshire, Rotherham, Sheffield and North East Lincolnshire are among the 10 local authorities with the highest rates of secondary-school exclusions in the country.

Kirby said: “It is difficult to understand why fixed-period exclusion should be so much more necessary in these eight local authorities, compared with others.

“Schools should only ever use exclusions as a last resort. If not properly applied, being removed from school can disrupt a child’s education and affect their future life chances.”

Amanda Spielman, Ofsted chief inspector, criticised schools in her annual report, saying that exclusions can be used in order to boost a school’s academic results.

She said that exclusions should only be used when pupils’ behaviour justified it.