Ministers to review why so many children are excluded

MINISTERS will today announce new measures to look into school exclusions after it emerged 35 children are told to leave permanently every day, costing taxpayers £2.1billion a year.

As part of the first ever countrywide racial equality review, Theresa May will announce plans to look into why so many children are excluded, alongside a review of equality in prisons and within the benefit system.

In a Cabinet meeting this morning, the Prime Minister will say there is now “nowhere to hide” for Government and public services.

She will say: “Britain has come a long way in spreading equality and opportunity. But the data we are publishing today will provide definitive evidence of how far we must still go to build a country that works for everyone.”

Ministers in the Department for Education will conduct an external review to understand why so many children are being excluded.

Tomorrow’s figures are expected to show the worst-hit areas, as it emerged Irish traveller, gipsy or Roma pupils have the highest rates of permanent exclusion and that black Caribbean pupils are three times more likely to be excluded than white British pupils.

The data looked at primary, secondary and special education and reveals a stark pattern of inequality across the country.

The research by think tank IPPR found that 35 children a day are asked to leave and each costs £370,000 over their lifetime due to poorer outcomes.

The rate of permanent exclusions in England has risen 40 per cent in the last three years.