School exclusions double in five years in county

The number of children excluded from school in Lancashire has more than doubled over the last five years – far outstripping the rate at which exclusions have increased nationally.

During the 2023/24 academic year, 568 pupils were permanently expelled from Lancashire County Council schools rising from 232 in 2019/20 – a hike of 144%.

That is more than four times higher than the 31% increase in exclusions seen across England between the autumn terms of both those years. 

The figures, obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service revealed that "persistent disruptive behaviour" was the biggest cause for exclusion in the county.

That more than trebled from 65 instances in 2019/20 to 220 by last year.

Across the five-year period as whole, there were 1,911 exclusions from more than 600 schools and academies in the county council's patch, which does not include Blackpool or Blackburn with Darwen because they are unitary authorities.

Physical assaults against pupils and adults were the second and third most common reasons for expulsion – with 313 and 227 exclusions arising, respectively, as a result of each.  Both have more than doubled in five years.

Drug and alcohol-related incidents led to 189 expulsions in that time, with "sexual misconduct" being the reason for 27.

Bullying was cited as a cause of exclusion nine times between 2019/20 and 2023/24.

The inappropriate use of IT, social media or online tech accounted for eight expulsions.

Meanwhile, a category of "wilful and repeated transgression of protective measures in place to protect public health" made its debut as a reason for expulsion in 2022/23 – two years into the pandemic – when three pupils were kicked out of class for that reason.

County Councillor Jayne Rear, cabinet member for education and skills at Lancashire County Council said the authority's goal was "to ensure that every student in Lancashire has the opportunity to thrive in a safe and inclusive educational environment".

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