Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SUSPENDED AGED 4
286 primary-age children excluded from Ulster schools
KIDS as young as four are being suspended from Northern Ireland’s schools, a report reveals today.
The pupils are among 286 primaryage children excluded between 2016 and 2017, according to a report by the Education and Training Inspectorate.
ETI chief inspector Noelle Buick also noted one-in-five pupils “are suffering significant mental health problems by the time they reach 18”.
A SHOCKING 74 children aged four or five were suspended from schools in just one academic year.
Of the 4,084 pupils to be disciplined in this way in 2016-17, 286 were in primary education with more than a quarter in P1 or P2.
The rising figures showed around three times more boys than girls were suspended in Northern Ireland.
An Education and Training Inspectorate report revealed repeated infringement of school rules was among the main reasons for the increase.
Published today, Learning Lessons: Inspiring People: Putting Learners First set out challenging times in the sector.
It noted a recent Audit Office report finding that the general schools’ budget has fallen in real terms by 9.3% from 2012-13 to 2016-17. The ETI said the absence of an education minister was restricting decisions that can be made, in turn creating “further uncertainty, delay and frustration”.
The report also revealed further challenges in a rise in the number of “under-age children” – those aged two – in nursery units. It found at 25 of the 338 statutory nursery schools and units within primaries, a quarter of children were two.
It said: “Where there is a larger number of under-age children in a class, including those with additional needs, the demands on the practitioner to provide a quality pre-school programme is restricted and, as a result, the children do not make as sure a start as expected.” ETI chief inspector Noelle Buick emphasised education and training has “many positives that should be celebrated”.
She described many “exceptional” and “inspirational” leaders, teachers, lecturers and youth workers.
Ms Buick commended high standards in maths and good development of thinking skills at primary schools.
However, she also highlighted concerns including large gaps in attainment in public exams and a growing number of overweight P1 children.
Mental health issues were also a worry with a “significant number” of schoolchildren impacted.
Ms Buick called for a multi-agency healthy lifestyle programme to address the issues.