School Suspensions Decline Across England, Marking First Fall Since Pandemic Disruptions

New data reveals a notable reduction in school suspensions across England, marking the first decline since the educational disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. For the autumn and spring terms of the 2022-23 academic year, there were 394,400 suspensions, a decrease from 407,300 recorded in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Alongside the drop in temporary exclusions, permanent exclusions also saw a reduction, falling from 4,900 in 2021-22 to 4,000 in 2022-23. The Department for Education has attributed these positive trends to the sustained efforts of teachers and school staff, working to reintegrate pupils and address behavioural challenges that became more pronounced during the pandemic.

While acknowledging the “pernicious legacy” of COVID-19 on student behaviour, the government has commended educators for their commitment. However, despite these recent improvements, the figures still indicate that suspensions remain higher than pre-pandemic levels. In 2018-19, before the onset of the pandemic, there were 384,100 suspensions and 4,400 permanent exclusions in England.

The current statistics suggest a partial recovery towards pre-pandemic stability, yet further work is evidently required to fully address the long-term impact on student conduct and school discipline.