School exclusions spiralling

MORE than twice as many Bristol children were permanently excluded last year compared with the past two previous years.

Headteachers in Bristol have begun excluding pupils more often in what council bosses have criticised as the “school-to-prison pipeline”.

In the last academic year, 80 children were permanently excluded. Eleven of these were from primary schools and three were from special schools. So far this year, 73 children have already been permanently excluded, including five from primary schools.

Just two senior schools were responsible for over a third of permanent exclusions last year, although a Bristol City Council report did not name which ones.

During a people scrutiny meeting yesterday, Labour councillor Kerry Bailes said: “They’re being failed by the schools, by the system, funding and the culture crisis. Is it any wonder we’re in a position where kids are killing kids in this city? They’ve been failed massively.”

Exclusion rates in Bristol are higher for ethnic minorities, particularly for children with Caribbean heritage or Gypsy, Roma and Traveller heritage.

Labour deputy mayor Asher Craig, responsible for education, said: “This has been going on since I was child. I don’t want to have to call [schools] out, but they are partly responsible for what I call the school-to-prison pipeline.

“I’m quite shocked about how many children we’re seeing excluded from primary school – that never used to be a thing at all.

“Let’s call it what it is – racism within the education system is why we’re seeing so many black kids being excluded. And it’s the same cycle. You can go back 20, 30 years and see the exact same figures.”

The number of permanent exclusions in Bristol dipped in recent years, before rising again. In 2016, there were 87 permanent exclusions and the council set up a panel to address the issue.

Early intervention is now planned to be offered in primary schools, to tackle issues before they escalate.

Exclusion rates are also increasing in schools across the country, and Bristol is not alone in facing this issue.