Record number of school exclusions in Peterborough for drug and alcohol issues

The most recent available Department for Education figures show Peterborough schools excluded students 64 times for drug and alcohol-related issues in 2018-19 – eight permanently and 56 temporarily.

This was an increase on 40 the year before, and the highest since records began in 2006-07.

All exclusions occurred in state-funded secondary schools, with none in special schools or in primary schools.

They were among a record 12,180 drug and alcohol-related exclusions across England – an increase of 17 per cent on the year before.

There were a total of 2,341 exclusions in Peterborough in 2018-19, an increase of 10 per cent on the year before, when there were 2,119.

A rise in the number of exclusions across England has prompted the creation of a new cross-party group of MPs, to reduce avoidable expulsions of vulnerable children.

The National Association for Children of Alcoholics said the statistics were “worrying”, and unless the underlying causes were addressed the number excluded may continue to rise.

Dr Piers Henriques, head of communications at the charity, said: “So often, for young people, substance misuse occurs as a coping mechanism for wider challenges, such as mental health problems or family discord.

“School exclusion will be justified in individual cases.

“However, it is only with improved support and inclusion for young people with hard lives that we will begin to see these numbers fall.

“We need better, earlier interventions in schools that seek to support rather than bluntly punish these young people.”

The total number of exclusions nationwide also increased between 2017-18 and 2018-19, from 419,000 to 446,000, prompting the formation of an all-party parliamentary group on exclusions in recent months.

The Centre for Social Justice, which will act as secretariat for the group, said the future looks “desperately bleak” for many children forced out of school.

James Scales, head of education at the CSJ, said: “Just four per cent of pupils who sit their GCSEs in alternative providers get a standard pass in English and maths.

“By bringing together cross-party voices and sector leaders, this new parliamentary group gives us a chance to put that right – both by acting earlier to reduce avoidable exclusions and by being more ambitious for excluded pupils.”

A DfE spokesman said: “We are clear that expulsion should only be used as a last resort, and should not mean exclusion from high quality education or support.

“We will always back headteachers to use expulsion when required as part of creating calm and disciplined classrooms, which bring out the best in every pupil.”