'Urgent' action needed over exclusions - report

The rate of pupil exclusions from schools in Sheffield has risen sharply and has "consistently exceeded" the national average in recent years, a report has found.

More than one in every 1,660 pupils in the city's schools was permanently excluded in 2024, according to statistics revealed in the report to be considered by councillors.

John Mansergh, the report's author, said the figures suggested "deeper, systemic challenges not seen to the same extent elsewhere".

Mr Mansergh, access and inclusion lead at Sheffield City Council, called for "urgent, coordinated action" to address exclusion rates, which had increased across pupil groups since 2022.

The rate of permanent exclusions in England in the 2023-24 spring term was 0.04 per 100 pupils, equivalent to one in every 2,500 pupils, compared to 0.06 exclusions per 100 pupils in Sheffield in the same period.

A report to be seen by members of Sheffield City Council's education, children and families policy committee next week stated that 190 exclusions had been recorded in Sheffield so far this year.

According to the figures, 160 of those pupils were at secondary schools, 25 were at primary schools and five were at schools for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The report stated that children from disadvantaged backgrounds, with SEND, or from ethnic minority communities were over-represented in exclusion figures.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, councillors would be told that an exclusions strategy had been drafted and would be developed alongside the Learn Sheffield partnership and other children's services.

The Sheffield Inclusion Centre had already increased its capacity to deliver education for excluded children, while exclusion data would also be monitored in order to identify risks quicker and make more targeted interventions.

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