Pupil was excluded for sexual misconduct

A SECONDARY school pupil in Leicester was permanently excluded because of sexual misconduct, government data has shown.

Figures from the Department for Education (DfE) show that 24 pupils were also temporarily suspended from school for the same reason during the 2017/18 school year.

DfE guidelines say sexual misconduct includes abuse, assault, harassment, bullying, graffiti and lewd behaviour that is sexual in nature. One of the 24 temporary suspensions was for a primary school pupil.

Twenty-one pupils in Leicester in total were permanently excluded.

Two pupils were excluded for physical assault against a pupil, five for physical assault against an adult, four for verbal abuse or threatening behaviour against an adult, one was drug and alcohol-related, five were for persistent disruptive behaviour and three for non-specified reasons.

Across England, there were 2,069 temporary suspensions because of sexual misconduct in 2017/18 – 200 of which were among primary school pupils.

There were also 100 students permanently excluded that year, of whom 12 were primary pupils.

Guidance issued by the DfE last year said: “While any report of sexual violence or sexual harassment should be taken seriously, staff should be aware it is more likely girls who will be the victims of sexual violence and sexual harassment and more likely it will be perpetrated by boys.”

A city council spokesman said: “It is vital schools address behaviour that disrupts the education of other children and prevents teachers from doing their jobs.

“Schools use a range of strategies to manage poor behaviour and work with pupils and families to tackle the reasons behind it. All schools also support young people’s relationship development through personal, health and social education.

“A decision to exclude a child from school is never taken lightly and only ever used as a last resort.

“Our pupil referral unit offers intervention and support where pupils work with specialist staff to address particular problems and very often return to schools and do very well.

“Schools work effectively with the local authority to minimise permanent exclusions. Fixed-term exclusions continue to be used to send a clear message inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated.

“It is very encouraging the number of exclusions continue to be among the lowest in the country.”