Number of exclusions from Croydon schools at new low
by Ian Austen
ian.austen@essnmedia.co.uk
-
TOP OF THE TABLE: More children were permanently excluded from Edenham High than any other school
The number of pupils permanently excluded from Croydon schools is at its lowest level for 15 years.
A report being presented to the council's scrutiny sub-committee for children, learning and leisure tomorrow (Tuesday) shows that in the 2008/09 academic year there were just 81 permanent exclusions, down from 90 in the previous year.
The number of pupils suspended for a set period of time is, the report indicates, likely to remain pretty much unchanged at around 1,700 a year.
Of those 81 pupils expelled, 26 incidents involved persistent disruptive behaviour, 17 were for physical assaults against another pupil and nine were for assaulting an adult.
Eight of the exclusions were for verbal abuse or threatening behaviour aimed at adults and six were for possessing an offensive weapon.
A total of 78 per cent of pupils permanently excluded were boys, while 22 per cent were girls.
The report points out that the permanent exclusions were down for the fourth year running and the number of pupils temporarily banned from school had remained at around 1,700 for three years.
One of the most pressing problems facing education authorities in Croydon in recent years has been the number of exclusions affecting black Caribbean pupils.
The good news, the reports says, is that while a quarter of pupils permanently excluded were black Caribbean, the total was down by 5 per cent on the previous year.
The worst affected school in 2008/09, ranked by permanent exclusions, was Edenham High, in Shirley, with 14 permanent exclusions and 175 suspensions.
Harris Academy South Norwood came next with 13 permanent exclusions followed by Riddlesdown High, in Purley, with six, Westwood Language College for Girls, in Upper Norwood, with five and Addington High with four.
Tim Pollard, the council's cabinet member for children, young people and learners, said: "A lot of schools are now focusing on dealing with low level antisocial behaviour which often leads to exclusions."
The fact that more effort was being put into coping with problems early was, he thinks, one of the reasons why there had been a continuing drop in figures.
Cllr Pollard said: "There is the general feeling that prevention is better than cure and the fact is that dealing with the problem of antisocial behaviour early, to prevent it escalating, is working and that has to be a good thing."
8 Comments
View all
by Anon, Anon
Sunday, April 18 2010, 11:41PM
“Thats because they now use the term Permanent Study Leave!”
by Anon, Anon
Friday, February 26 2010, 4:00PM
“Any child expelled should be given a chance.
If they fail for a 2nd time perhaps it is time we drown them before they become a burdon on the tax payer.
If we can spot the bad kids and get rid of them, we can save ourselves so much money that would normally be spent on a council house, dole money, prison etc....
It may sound barbaric but it's the only way forward.”
by Nick, CROYDON
Friday, February 26 2010, 6:21AM
“These people you describe must remain in the U.K, although criminals they are British Criminals, and if we did not have them then we would not need a Police Force or a Courts System or a Prison Service.
All of the above are at breaking point because of the people who should NOT be in this country, such as the kids who start their life with being suspended then expelled from school and then into crime. The ones who come from an ethnic background and who can not behave and get a job and contribute to society should be deported, and as i said their family with them to act as a detterent.
I dont see what the issue is here.”
by ANNE, SELSDON
Thursday, February 25 2010, 2:37PM
“If a child's grandparents come from somewhere else and the child and parents have been born here, then they are British and have every right to live here. To suggest that the badly behaved ones come from somewhere else is rubbish. A few minutes' away from my home is an estate where there are several teenage and 20+ criminals, one of whom has come out of prison, one is still inside. They are all white English with no parents, grandparents or great grandparents from anywhere but your lovely Great Britain.”
by Nick, CROYDON
Thursday, February 25 2010, 7:46AM
“Where to? Where their families originally came from. It is clear from the statistics provided that the majority are from foreign countries, the fact they are presently living in this country is something that could be changed if the country stood up and made themselves counted instead of being scared of upsetting the PC Brigade such as Anne of Selsdon who seems not to be quite living in the real world. I mean no offence to her, but she needs to realise that Croydon has become a no go area in certain places because of these children that she thinks deserve to be in our once Great Britain.”