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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Pupil exclusions continue to rise | Pupil exclusions continue to rise |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The number of pupils being excluded for bad behaviour in Scottish schools has increased in the last year. | The number of pupils being excluded for bad behaviour in Scottish schools has increased in the last year. |
| A report said overall exclusions had risen by 4% in 2006/07 to 44,794. | A report said overall exclusions had risen by 4% in 2006/07 to 44,794. |
| Schools Minister Maureen Watt said she was "extremely concerned" that exclusions, which she believed should be a last resort, had gone up. | Schools Minister Maureen Watt said she was "extremely concerned" that exclusions, which she believed should be a last resort, had gone up. |
| The report also revealed that there was a 14% rise in exclusions due to physical assault, though numbers were a very small proportion of the total. | The report also revealed that there was a 14% rise in exclusions due to physical assault, though numbers were a very small proportion of the total. |
| READ THE REPORT School exclusions 2006/07 [664K] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | READ THE REPORT School exclusions 2006/07 [664K] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
| The Scottish Government has written to umbrella local authority organisation Cosla as part of a review about how statistics on violence in schools are collected. | The Scottish Government has written to umbrella local authority organisation Cosla as part of a review about how statistics on violence in schools are collected. |
| Ms Watt said it was important to have comprehensive and reliable evidence to inform policy making. | Ms Watt said it was important to have comprehensive and reliable evidence to inform policy making. |
| She added: "I firmly believe that where a child is excluded from school we have - collectively - failed that child. Our early intervention policies will help to set children on the path for success, by providing them with the help and support they need." | She added: "I firmly believe that where a child is excluded from school we have - collectively - failed that child. Our early intervention policies will help to set children on the path for success, by providing them with the help and support they need." |
| 'Slippery slope' | 'Slippery slope' |
| Tom McGhee is director of Spark of Genius, which provides education for young people excluded from mainstream schooling. | Tom McGhee is director of Spark of Genius, which provides education for young people excluded from mainstream schooling. |
| He believed that family breakdown and economic circumstances were among the factors which led to youngsters misbehaving in class. | He believed that family breakdown and economic circumstances were among the factors which led to youngsters misbehaving in class. |
| Mr McGhee added: "Very often the individual child does not have the skills to profit within a mainstream environment. | Mr McGhee added: "Very often the individual child does not have the skills to profit within a mainstream environment. |
| EXCLUSIONS 2006/07 44,794 exclusions78% of exclusions were male pupils32% of exclusions involved general or persistent disobedience26% of exclusions involved verbal abuse of staff16% of exclusions involved insolent or offensive abuse 1,210 exclusions from special schools6,018 exclusions from primary schools37,566 exclusions from secondary schools | EXCLUSIONS 2006/07 44,794 exclusions78% of exclusions were male pupils32% of exclusions involved general or persistent disobedience26% of exclusions involved verbal abuse of staff16% of exclusions involved insolent or offensive abuse 1,210 exclusions from special schools6,018 exclusions from primary schools37,566 exclusions from secondary schools |
| "I think teachers do a really, really good job at keeping 20 pupils happy in the classroom. | "I think teachers do a really, really good job at keeping 20 pupils happy in the classroom. |
| "The issue with exclusions is often the barometer of problems. If it becomes a permanent exclusion those children start the slippery slope down." | "The issue with exclusions is often the barometer of problems. If it becomes a permanent exclusion those children start the slippery slope down." |
| In 2005/2006, the then Labour/Liberal Democrat administration revealed that there were 42,990 exclusions - which represented an increase of 2% on the previous year's figures. | In 2005/2006, the then Labour/Liberal Democrat administration revealed that there were 42,990 exclusions - which represented an increase of 2% on the previous year's figures. |
| Exclusions have risen each year since 2002/03, when the figure stood at 37,442. | Exclusions have risen each year since 2002/03, when the figure stood at 37,442. |
| The director of The Prince's Trust Scotland, Geraldine Gammell, said that increased levels of school exclusions were largely preventable. | The director of The Prince's Trust Scotland, Geraldine Gammell, said that increased levels of school exclusions were largely preventable. |
| 'Stronger line' | |
| She added: "Greater investment in early intervention and alternative learning programmes, which are individually tailored and targeted to the needs of those young people most at risk, will prevent them moving into a life of unemployment and potentially into the criminal justice system. | She added: "Greater investment in early intervention and alternative learning programmes, which are individually tailored and targeted to the needs of those young people most at risk, will prevent them moving into a life of unemployment and potentially into the criminal justice system. |
| "This ultimately results in them making a worthy contribution to our economy and society." | "This ultimately results in them making a worthy contribution to our economy and society." |
| Scottish Conservative MSP Liz Smith said the figures were deeply worrying. | |
| She added: "When it comes to tackling persistent offenders, there has to be a much stronger line. | |
| "It simply isn't acceptable that these pupils are allowed to remain in mainstream classes disrupting the education of the well-behaved majority and making life a misery for their teachers." |