Suspensions

Published 18 December 2024

Contents

1. Main facts and figures

• in the 2022 to 2023 school year, there were 787,000 suspensions in state-funded schools in England – 933 suspensions for every 10,000 pupils (a rate of 9.33)

• White Gypsy or Roma pupils were nearly 4 times more likely to be suspended than the national average, with the highest suspension rates out of all ethnic groups – 3,371 suspensions for every 10,000 pupils (a rate of 33.71)

• pupils from the White Irish Traveller ethnic group had the second highest suspension rate out of all ethnic groups – 2,177 suspensions for every 10,000 pupils (a rate of 21.77)

• pupils from the Mixed White and Black Caribbean ethnic group were almost 2 times more likely to be suspended than the national average, with 1,736 suspensions for every 10,000 pupils (a rate of 17.36)

• Black Caribbean pupils had a suspension rate of 13.58 (1,358 suspensions for every 10,000 pupils)

• pupils from the Chinese (81 for every 10,000 pupils) and Indian ethnic groups (122 for every 10,000 pupils) had the lowest rates

• the suspension rates for the Chinese ethnic group are based on very small numbers of pupils and are less reliable as a result

Further research

Research by the Anti-Bullying Alliance (PDF) (PDF opens in a new window or tab) found that Gypsy or Roma and Irish Traveller pupils were stereotyped at school. This included teachers assuming that they were bullies.

Research by the Office for National Statistics about Gypsies’ and Travellers' lived experiences, education and employment found that Gypsy or Roma and Irish Traveller children sometimes reacted to the bullying and racism they experienced, and were unfairly suspended as a result.

2. Things you need to know

What the data measures

The data shows the number and rate of suspensions from state-funded schools in England.

Suspensions are temporary and can be for up to 45 school days.

Pupils can be suspended more than once and from more than one school, as long as all the suspensions in a school year don't add up to more than 45 days.

Suspension rates are rounded to 2 decimal places. Percentages by ethnicity and reason for suspension are rounded to 1 decimal place.

You can see data on permanent exclusions by ethnicity.

Not included in the data

The data does not show:

• the number of pupils who were given suspensions
• how many times each pupil was suspended

How suspension rates are calculated

Rates are calculated using the number of pupils in January each year and the number of suspensions in the whole school year.

For example, a suspension rate of 11.22 is the equivalent of 1,122 suspensions for every 10,000 pupils.

Percentages of suspensions by reason for each ethnic group are based on total reasons for that ethnic group, not all pupils. From the 2020 to 2021 school year, up to 3 reasons were recorded for each suspension. The sum of the number of reasons does not match the total number of suspensions.

The ethnic groups used in the data

The ethnic groups used are based on the 18 ethnic groups used in the 2021 Census, with 1 exception:

• there are separate categories for White Traveller of Irish heritage, and White Gypsy or Roma pupils

Data analysed over time, by local authority and by reason is shown for the following aggregated groups:

• Asian
• Black
• Mixed
• White
• 'other'

This is to make sure pupil numbers are large enough to be reliable.

Pupils’ ethnicity was not known for 18,081 of school suspensions (13.0%). Suspension rates are shown separately for pupils whose ethnic group was not known.

Methodology

Read the detailed methodology document for this data.

You can also read about a data checking exercise for data from 1997 to 2010, which led to some figures being updated.

Data for the White Gypsy and Roma, and Traveller of Irish heritage groups is based on small numbers of pupils. There are low numbers of suspensions in some ethnic groups. This makes it difficult to make reliable generalisations.

Read more about how group size affects the reliability of data.

Since the 2020 to 2021 school year, schools have been able to record up to 3 reasons for each suspension. There is no requirement to order the reasons. In previous years, there was a different list of reasons and schools had to report the main reason for each suspension. This means data on the reasons for suspensions is not comparable with those before the 2020 to 2021 school year.

In the data file

In the school years up to July 2017, ethnicity was only collected for pupils of compulsory school age. As a result, the analysis of suspensions by ethnicity in these years only includes pupils of compulsory school age. Pupils above compulsory school age are still included in the overall totals, so these will not match total suspensions by ethnicity.

The decimal places against values for 1997 to 2010 are a result of a data checking exercise, which led to some figures being updated.

3. By ethnicity

• Location: England
• Time period: 2022 to 2023 school year
• Source: Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England

Suspensions rate, and number of suspensions, by ethnicity

Ethnicity	Rate	Number
All	9.33	787,000
Asian	3.16	33,973
Bangladeshi	2.55	3,828
Chinese	0.81	475
Indian	1.22	3,765
Pakistani	5.40	20,501
Asian other	3.04	5,404
Black	7.17	36,196
Black African	5.54	19,947
Black Caribbean	13.58	10,793
Black other	8.36	5,456
Mixed	10.01	57,383
Mixed White and Asian	6.74	9,359
Mixed White and Black African	10.05	7,817
Mixed White and Black Caribbean	17.36	23,089
Mixed other	7.65	17,118
White	10.60	629,968
White British	11.06	584,202
Gypsy or Roma	33.71	9,462
White Irish	9.56	2,008
Irish Traveller	21.77	1,487
White other	5.43	32,809
Other	5.86	11,399
Unknown	12.96	18,081

Download table data (CSV) Source data (CSV)

Summary of Suspensions By ethnicity Summary

The data shows that:

• the overall suspension rate was around 933 suspensions for every 10,000 pupils (or 9.33)

• White Gypsy and Roma pupils (3,371 suspensions for every 10,000 pupils, or 33.71), and Traveller of Irish heritage pupils (2,177 for every 10,000 pupils, or 21.77) had the highest suspension rates

• pupils from the Chinese (81 for every 10,000 pupils, or 0.81) and Indian (122 for every 10,000 pupils, or 1.21) ethnic groups had the lowest suspension rates

• the suspension rate for White British pupils was 1,106 for every 10,000 pupils (or 11.06)

4. By ethnicity over time

• Location: England
• Time period: September 2006 to July 2023
• Source: Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England

Suspension rate, and number of suspensions, by ethnicity over time

	All		Asian		Black		Mixed		White		Other		Unknown
School year	All Rate	All Number	Asian Rate	Asian Number	Black Rate	Black Number	Mixed Rate	Mixed Number	White Rate	White Number	Other Rate	Other Number	Unknown Rate	Unknown Number
2006/07	6.32	424,331	2.97	16,022	8.98	25,497	9.02	19,725	6.32	347,869	3.97	2,933	12.04	12,285
2007/08	5.76	382,592	2.70	15,186	8.00	23,478	7.75	17,837	5.83	314,783	3.79	2,977	10.23	8,331
2008/09	5.37	353,919	2.55	14,822	7.69	23,266	7.26	17,670	5.44	289,055	3.59	2,972	8.73	6,134
2009/10	5.01	330,174	2.37	14,293	7.28	22,820	6.85	17,684	5.07	267,282	3.27	2,853	8.05	5,242
2010/11	4.89	322,883	2.15	13,408	6.98	22,775	6.55	17,891	4.94	258,314	3.24	2,973	12.52	7,522
2011/12	4.03	304,372	1.71	13,049	5.20	20,439	5.12	17,239	4.24	246,170	2.64	3,011	3.52	4,464
2012/13	3.98	265,839	1.76	11,951	5.06	17,802	5.13	15,629	4.14	214,482	2.76	2,770	5.31	3,205
2013/14	3.96	267,450	1.63	11,456	4.77	17,389	5.02	16,226	4.16	216,185	2.56	2,712	5.50	3,482
2014/15	4.39	300,626	1.80	13,119	5.42	20,446	5.49	18,835	4.61	240,762	2.96	3,324	6.20	4,140
2015/16	4.85	336,329	1.86	14,067	5.89	22,899	5.98	21,664	5.14	269,533	3.05	3,645	6.61	4,521
2016/17	4.76	381,864	1.75	15,877	5.65	25,557	5.73	25,678	5.08	303,724	3.11	4,570	7.49	6,458
2017/18	5.08	410,753	1.71	15,928	5.56	25,538	5.89	27,583	5.50	329,354	3.16	4,840	8.05	7,510
2018/19	5.36	438,265	1.98	18,862	5.54	25,800	6.29	30,748	5.80	348,338	3.34	5,343	8.47	9,174
2019/20	3.76	310,733	1.31	12,845	3.85	18,086	4.35	22,162	4.11	246,979	2.22	3,713	5.88	6,948
2020/21	4.25	352,454	1.60	15,888	4.07	19,141	4.88	25,820	4.65	278,855	2.62	4,499	6.30	8,251
2021/22	6.91	578,280	2.57	26,533	6.42	30,982	7.87	43,553	7.62	455,832	4.18	7,680	10.12	13,700
2022/23	9.33	787,000	3.16	33,973	7.17	36,196	10.01	57,383	10.60	629,968	5.86	11,399	12.96	18,081

Download table data (CSV) Source data (CSV)

Summary of Suspensions By ethnicity over time Summary

The data shows that, in the 16 school years to July 2023:

• the overall suspension rate went up from 632 to 933 suspensions for every 10,000 pupils (or from 6.32 to 9.33)

• the suspension rate went up in all 5 aggregated ethnic groups from the 2019 to 2020 school year onwards

• pupils from White and Mixed ethnic backgrounds had the highest suspension rates, above the national average

• the overall suspension rate for Black pupils went down from 8.98 to 7.17

• the overall suspension rate was lowest among pupils from the Asian and ‘other’ ethnic groups

• the suspension rates for White pupils were consistently above the national average

5. By ethnicity and type of school

• Location: England
• Time period: 2022 to 2023 school year
• Source: Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England

Suspension rate, and number of suspensions, by ethnicity and type of school

	State-funded primary		State-funded secondary		State-funded special		Total
Ethnicity	State-funded primary Rate	State-funded primary Number	State-funded secondary Rate	State-funded secondary Number	State-funded special Rate	State-funded special Number	Total Rate	Total Number
All	1.81	84,265	18.90	685,965	10.99	16,770	9.33	787,000
Asian	0.36	2,157	6.76	31,549	1.66	267	3.16	33,973
Bangladeshi	0.32	258	5.28	3,542	1.05	28	2.55	3,828
Chinese	0.20	67	1.62	395	2.49	13	0.81	475
Indian	0.20	344	2.59	3,390	1.01	31	1.22	3,765
Pakistani	0.50	1,036	11.64	19,337	1.88	128	5.40	20,501
Asian other	0.47	452	6.24	4,885	2.20	67	3.04	5,404
Black	1.71	4,526	13.49	30,930	7.00	740	7.17	36,196
Black African	1.29	2,460	10.62	17,234	3.57	253	5.54	19,947
Black Caribbean	3.48	1,349	23.44	9,117	18.52	327	13.58	10,793
Black other	2.02	717	16.27	4,579	9.31	160	8.36	5,456
Mixed	2.17	7,082	20.60	48,811	14.37	1,490	10.01	57,383
Mixed White and Asian	1.04	826	14.64	8,369	8.43	164	6.74	9,359
Mixed White and Black African	2.34	1,022	20.22	6,586	14.35	209	10.05	7,817
Mixed White and Black Caribbean	4.02	3,021	35.22	19,333	24.93	735	17.36	23,089
Mixed other	1.74	2,213	15.73	14,523	9.51	382	7.65	17,118
White	2.08	68,376	21.55	547,628	12.70	13,964	10.60	629,968
White British	2.18	63,503	22.33	507,249	13.14	13,450	11.06	584,202
Gypsy or Roma	5.01	939	95.46	8,419	20.08	104	33.71	9,462
White Irish	1.88	201	17.58	1,752	15.24	55	9.56	2,008
Irish Traveller	8.73	458	70.13	1,000	18.24	29	21.77	1,487
White other	0.94	3,275	11.74	29,208	4.97	326	5.43	32,809
Other	0.81	883	12.61	10,428	3.09	88	5.86	11,399
Unknown	1.97	1,241	22.54	16,619	8.12	221	12.96	18,081

Download table data (CSV) Source data (CSV)

Summary of Suspensions By ethnicity and type of school Summary

Data for the Chinese ethnic group is based on small numbers of suspensions, so generalisations are less reliable as a result. The data shows that:

• in every ethnic group, suspension rates were higher in secondary and special schools than in primary schools

• pupils from the White Irish Traveller ethnic group had the highest suspension rates in primary schools – 873 suspensions for every 10,000 pupils, or 8.73

• White Gypsy and Roma pupils had the highest suspension rates in secondary schools – 9,546 suspensions for every 10,000 pupils, or 95.46

• Mixed White and Black Caribbean pupils had the highest suspension rates in special schools – 2,493 suspensions for every 10,000 pupils, or 24.93

• pupils from the Indian and Chinese ethnic groups had the lowest suspension rates in primary and secondary schools – pupils from the Indian and Bangladeshi ethnic groups had the lowest rates in special schools

6. By ethnicity and local authority

• Location: England
• Time period: 2022 to 2023 school year
• Source: Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England

Suspension rate, and number of suspensions, by ethnicity and local authority

	All		Asian		Black		Mixed		White		Other		Unknown
Local Authority	All Rate	All Number	Asian Rate	Asian Number	Black Rate	Black Number	Mixed Rate	Mixed Number	White Rate	White Number	Other Rate	Other Number	Unknown Rate	Unknown Number
Barking and Dagenham	2.67	2.67	1.12	1.12	2.42	2.42	4.14	4.14	4.01	4.01	1.32	1.32	1.97	1.97
Barnet	4.97	4.97	1.84	1.84	8.05	8.05	5.73	5.73	4.35	4.35	7.68	7.68	7.42	7.42
Barnsley	20.85	20.85	1.64	1.64	10.26	10.26	16.38	16.38	21.07	21.07	2.27	2.27	55.49	55.49
Bath and North East Somerset	9.28	9.28	3.00	3.00	5.11	5.11	12.67	12.67	9.05	9.05	8.04	8.04	18.37	18.37
Bedford	7.78	7.78	3.48	3.48	7.42	7.42	12.44	12.44	7.76	7.76	11.11	11.11	20.38	20.38
Bexley	7.68	7.68	1.34	1.34	7.30	7.30	7.04	7.04	9.37	9.37	4.56	4.56	9.20	9.20
Birmingham	7.43	7.43	3.69	3.69	9.46	9.46	12.47	12.47	9.62	9.62	5.68	5.68	11.51	11.51
Blackburn with Darwen	6.80	6.80	2.94	2.94	5.28	5.28	6.76	6.76	10.64	10.64	5.03	5.03	16.67	16.67
Blackpool	18.90	18.90	1.98	1.98	2.72	2.72	16.09	16.09	19.95	19.95	3.81	3.81	24.41	24.41
Bolton	12.15	12.15	2.85	2.85	7.13	7.13	9.16	9.16	17.55	17.55	7.91	7.91	10.29	10.29
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole	11.00	11.00	2.44	2.44	3.38	3.38	10.85	10.85	11.53	11.53	3.70	3.70	21.23	21.23
Bracknell Forest	10.19	10.19	2.84	2.84	7.59	7.59	15.50	15.50	10.71	10.71	3.49	3.49	8.65	8.65
Bradford	18.45	18.45	11.91	11.91	8.66	8.66	27.90	27.90	23.84	23.84	16.67	16.67	19.65	19.65
Brent	4.75	4.75	1.58	1.58	7.97	7.97	7.48	7.48	4.34	4.34	6.26	6.26	9.08	9.08
Brighton and Hove	5.15	5.15	1.20	1.20	8.12	8.12	5.10	5.10	5.37	5.37	2.74	2.74	7.55	7.55
Bristol, City of	14.46	14.46	4.58	4.58	13.29	13.29	18.03	18.03	14.86	14.86	14.10	14.10	35.03	35.03
Bromley	4.77	4.77	0.61	0.61	5.42	5.42	6.06	6.06	5.01	5.01	3.26	3.26	7.05	7.05
Buckinghamshire	5.54	5.54	3.38	3.38	8.54	8.54	8.39	8.39	5.76	5.76	6.02	6.02	5.38	5.38
Bury	10.00	10.00	4.03	4.03	7.68	7.68	11.12	11.12	11.38	11.38	9.88	9.88	13.23	13.23
Calderdale	12.70	12.70	9.16	9.16	12.59	12.59	17.60	17.60	13.38	13.38	2.47	2.47	12.64	12.64
Cambridgeshire	7.93	7.93	2.09	2.09	7.03	7.03	7.21	7.21	8.53	8.53	2.76	2.76	6.84	6.84
Camden	4.50	4.50	1.78	1.78	5.51	5.51	5.65	5.65	4.68	4.68	4.81	4.81	8.11	8.11
Central Bedfordshire	8.00	8.00	2.06	2.06	6.46	6.46	10.91	10.91	7.95	7.95	3.23	3.23	15.20	15.20
Cheshire East	6.56	6.56	0.94	0.94	3.68	3.68	5.40	5.40	6.70	6.70	5.70	5.70	14.52	14.52
Cheshire West and Chester	7.49	7.49	2.49	2.49	2.68	2.68	9.18	9.18	7.66	7.66	0.92	0.92	10.85	10.85
City of London	0.37	0.37	0.00	0.00	6.67	6.67	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	NA	NA
Cornwall	10.15	10.15	2.21	2.21	1.41	1.41	7.24	7.24	10.27	10.27	10.71	10.71	11.34	11.34
County Durham	9.14	9.14	1.12	1.12	1.97	1.97	6.34	6.34	9.37	9.37	3.12	3.12	16.09	16.09
Coventry	9.22	9.22	3.23	3.23	5.81	5.81	12.49	12.49	12.47	12.47	4.94	4.94	7.45	7.45
Croydon	6.31	6.31	1.85	1.85	9.59	9.59	8.19	8.19	5.10	5.10	3.42	3.42	9.68	9.68
Cumbria	6.66	6.66	1.33	1.33	2.06	2.06	5.63	5.63	6.62	6.62	0.65	0.65	14.17	14.17
Darlington	13.94	13.94	0.92	0.92	0.45	0.45	8.67	8.67	14.99	14.99	7.55	7.55	10.62	10.62
Derby	10.74	10.74	2.87	2.87	5.74	5.74	11.38	11.38	13.62	13.62	13.52	13.52	12.03	12.03
Derbyshire	11.37	11.37	2.20	2.20	8.20	8.20	13.01	13.01	11.46	11.46	7.89	7.89	16.38	16.38
Devon	15.98	15.98	2.38	2.38	15.68	15.68	17.29	17.29	16.32	16.32	3.45	3.45	14.14	14.14
Doncaster	24.21	24.21	1.96	1.96	6.51	6.51	19.27	19.27	25.81	25.81	19.75	19.75	39.45	39.45
Dorset	8.86	8.86	1.91	1.91	5.08	5.08	7.35	7.35	9.00	9.00	6.71	6.71	10.89	10.89
Dudley	8.46	8.46	4.02	4.02	10.19	10.19	13.12	13.12	8.51	8.51	5.91	5.91	11.59	11.59
Ealing	4.25	4.25	1.80	1.80	8.02	8.02	6.28	6.28	4.08	4.08	4.66	4.66	5.92	5.92
East Riding of Yorkshire	7.94	7.94	0.91	0.91	9.76	9.76	8.48	8.48	8.02	8.02	3.98	3.98	6.77	6.77
East Sussex	14.58	14.58	2.62	2.62	9.04	9.04	13.12	13.12	14.95	14.95	9.71	9.71	23.59	23.59
Enfield	5.90	5.90	1.52	1.52	7.86	7.86	6.37	6.37	5.85	5.85	3.42	3.42	8.20	8.20
Essex	9.30	9.30	2.43	2.43	6.43	6.43	9.75	9.75	9.81	9.81	3.68	3.68	11.61	11.61
Gateshead	12.96	12.96	4.12	4.12	2.65	2.65	6.52	6.52	13.94	13.94	7.88	7.88	25.32	25.32
Gloucestershire	8.56	8.56	1.91	1.91	9.94	9.94	11.46	11.46	8.77	8.77	13.86	13.86	5.91	5.91
Greenwich	6.00	6.00	1.09	1.09	6.11	6.11	6.30	6.30	7.15	7.15	2.95	2.95	9.35	9.35
Hackney	8.20	8.20	3.95	3.95	11.56	11.56	10.31	10.31	5.69	5.69	7.92	7.92	13.54	13.54
Halton	9.87	9.87	0.95	0.95	3.51	3.51	9.34	9.34	10.05	10.05	1.25	1.25	9.56	9.56
Hammersmith and Fulham	5.69	5.69	2.82	2.82	7.98	7.98	9.07	9.07	3.89	3.89	5.29	5.29	7.04	7.04
Hampshire	9.12	9.12	1.68	1.68	4.88	4.88	9.98	9.98	9.59	9.59	4.85	4.85	6.62	6.62
Haringey	5.20	5.20	1.03	1.03	7.44	7.44	5.34	5.34	4.05	4.05	5.24	5.24	16.03	16.03
Harrow	3.42	3.42	1.70	1.70	7.57	7.57	5.72	5.72	3.98	3.98	6.48	6.48	4.94	4.94
Hartlepool	19.81	19.81	1.66	1.66	7.02	7.02	7.47	7.47	21.20	21.20	0.85	0.85	0.45	0.45
Havering	4.36	4.36	1.13	1.13	4.37	4.37	6.02	6.02	4.75	4.75	3.89	3.89	6.00	6.00
Herefordshire, County of	6.03	6.03	0.00	0.00	0.96	0.96	5.44	5.44	6.19	6.19	0.57	0.57	12.77	12.77
Hertfordshire	6.20	6.20	2.11	2.11	6.87	6.87	7.56	7.56	6.54	6.54	6.38	6.38	8.04	8.04
Hillingdon	4.87	4.87	1.58	1.58	6.37	6.37	4.85	4.85	7.56	7.56	3.90	3.90	6.18	6.18
Hounslow	5.06	5.06	1.60	1.60	7.78	7.78	7.27	7.27	8.04	8.04	4.43	4.43	3.85	3.85
Isle of Wight	8.87	8.87	2.05	2.05	3.64	3.64	9.03	9.03	8.84	8.84	3.26	3.26	27.27	27.27
Isles of Scilly	0.38	0.38	NA	NA	NA	NA	0.00	0.00	0.40	0.40	NA	NA	0.00	0.00
Islington	7.70	7.70	2.46	2.46	9.23	9.23	10.03	10.03	7.55	7.55	5.30	5.30	4.17	4.17
Kensington and Chelsea	10.47	10.47	3.80	3.80	15.06	15.06	12.83	12.83	8.37	8.37	9.98	9.98	10.00	10.00
Kent	6.79	6.79	1.29	1.29	4.14	4.14	5.92	5.92	7.35	7.35	4.30	4.30	10.84	10.84
Kingston upon Hull, City of	12.44	12.44	2.44	2.44	3.71	3.71	10.09	10.09	12.86	12.86	9.32	9.32	31.27	31.27
Kingston upon Thames	1.73	1.73	0.65	0.65	3.47	3.47	2.25	2.25	1.85	1.85	2.10	2.10	2.70	2.70
Kirklees	10.98	10.98	5.74	5.74	7.39	7.39	17.46	17.46	12.85	12.85	7.90	7.90	13.83	13.83
Knowsley	6.43	6.43	1.79	1.79	5.02	5.02	4.93	4.93	6.60	6.60	1.55	1.55	12.58	12.58
Lambeth	5.51	5.51	3.19	3.19	8.30	8.30	6.05	6.05	2.40	2.40	4.19	4.19	6.64	6.64
Lancashire	9.37	9.37	4.38	4.38	5.21	5.21	11.70	11.70	10.01	10.01	4.48	4.48	17.56	17.56
Leeds	10.28	10.28	5.31	5.31	6.03	6.03	12.09	12.09	11.52	11.52	4.60	4.60	19.63	19.63
Leicester	5.55	5.55	1.64	1.64	4.95	4.95	9.34	9.34	10.78	10.78	5.97	5.97	5.41	5.41
Leicestershire	8.37	8.37	1.77	1.77	5.63	5.63	10.10	10.10	9.08	9.08	5.34	5.34	9.29	9.29
Lewisham	5.59	5.59	1.34	1.34	8.07	8.07	6.84	6.84	3.72	3.72	3.85	3.85	6.45	6.45
Lincolnshire	12.27	12.27	1.82	1.82	6.04	6.04	11.15	11.15	12.53	12.53	3.96	3.96	23.48	23.48
Liverpool	12.13	12.13	3.20	3.20	8.57	8.57	10.00	10.00	13.57	13.57	6.09	6.09	28.30	28.30
Luton	5.62	5.62	3.79	3.79	5.52	5.52	8.52	8.52	7.86	7.86	4.18	4.18	4.93	4.93
Manchester	11.84	11.84	4.01	4.01	6.96	6.96	15.55	15.55	19.66	19.66	7.23	7.23	15.12	15.12
Medway	8.34	8.34	1.93	1.93	4.25	4.25	9.01	9.01	9.26	9.26	2.88	2.88	20.60	20.60
Merton	3.14	3.14	1.10	1.10	4.25	4.25	5.04	5.04	3.33	3.33	2.59	2.59	1.90	1.90
Middlesbrough	28.18	28.18	5.01	5.01	2.82	2.82	20.42	20.42	34.89	34.89	7.47	7.47	49.51	49.51
Milton Keynes	11.81	11.81	2.03	2.03	7.96	7.96	12.10	12.10	15.05	15.05	20.03	20.03	18.82	18.82
Newcastle upon Tyne	16.68	16.68	4.66	4.66	7.67	7.67	12.13	12.13	20.96	20.96	10.12	10.12	16.81	16.81
Newham	3.91	3.91	1.74	1.74	6.61	6.61	5.89	5.89	6.22	6.22	2.87	2.87	9.90	9.90
Norfolk	12.63	12.63	1.51	1.51	6.06	6.06	12.13	12.13	13.07	13.07	3.96	3.96	16.86	16.86
North East Lincolnshire	13.69	13.69	2.60	2.60	1.77	1.77	6.18	6.18	13.96	13.96	9.54	9.54	23.59	23.59
North Lincolnshire	11.20	11.20	1.99	1.99	8.68	8.68	8.30	8.30	11.81	11.81	5.64	5.64	12.46	12.46
North Northamptonshire	12.21	12.21	2.84	2.84	5.49	5.49	15.19	15.19	12.91	12.91	6.18	6.18	15.44	15.44
North Somerset	8.63	8.63	2.76	2.76	8.68	8.68	12.84	12.84	8.65	8.65	0.00	0.00	6.23	6.23
North Tyneside	9.63	9.63	1.76	1.76	6.36	6.36	11.29	11.29	9.95	9.95	4.93	4.93	9.58	9.58
North Yorkshire	9.88	9.88	3.11	3.11	3.65	3.65	11.15	11.15	10.13	10.13	0.80	0.80	9.69	9.69
Northumberland	13.54	13.54	2.61	2.61	16.88	16.88	7.63	7.63	13.91	13.91	7.34	7.34	10.42	10.42
Nottingham	17.20	17.20	3.96	3.96	7.65	7.65	22.89	22.89	24.54	24.54	6.85	6.85	20.08	20.08
Nottinghamshire	10.82	10.82	1.98	1.98	7.10	7.10	12.12	12.12	11.24	11.24	6.36	6.36	15.17	15.17
Oldham	6.81	6.81	2.98	2.98	4.26	4.26	10.52	10.52	9.01	9.01	3.44	3.44	12.75	12.75
Oxfordshire	9.14	9.14	3.07	3.07	8.28	8.28	13.35	13.35	9.50	9.50	3.76	3.76	8.20	8.20
Peterborough	12.08	12.08	8.10	8.10	7.04	7.04	12.16	12.16	13.17	13.17	9.24	9.24	22.78	22.78
Plymouth	13.23	13.23	1.13	1.13	2.28	2.28	7.49	7.49	14.17	14.17	2.55	2.55	15.38	15.38
Portsmouth	13.20	13.20	3.53	3.53	6.24	6.24	13.69	13.69	14.68	14.68	9.00	9.00	18.68	18.68
Reading	7.32	7.32	2.11	2.11	7.39	7.39	11.87	11.87	9.87	9.87	2.97	2.97	6.48	6.48
Redbridge	3.95	3.95	2.97	2.97	7.93	7.93	5.52	5.52	4.31	4.31	5.44	5.44	3.00	3.00
Redcar and Cleveland	32.79	32.79	29.66	29.66	6.73	6.73	27.62	27.62	32.56	32.56	31.29	31.29	77.96	77.96
Richmond upon Thames	2.84	2.84	1.12	1.12	7.22	7.22	3.44	3.44	2.63	2.63	2.92	2.92	7.44	7.44
Rochdale	12.36	12.36	5.08	5.08	6.74	6.74	13.67	13.67	15.87	15.87	6.52	6.52	24.94	24.94
Rotherham	11.88	11.88	3.48	3.48	4.66	4.66	15.08	15.08	12.76	12.76	4.64	4.64	21.84	21.84
Rutland	6.67	6.67	1.41	1.41	1.05	1.05	10.53	10.53	6.74	6.74	0.00	0.00	4.90	4.90
Salford	12.02	12.02	1.57	1.57	5.06	5.06	7.57	7.57	14.21	14.21	4.81	4.81	20.75	20.75
Sandwell	6.14	6.14	2.34	2.34	7.14	7.14	8.73	8.73	8.03	8.03	4.07	4.07	13.05	13.05
Sefton	4.90	4.90	0.91	0.91	3.54	3.54	4.83	4.83	5.05	5.05	3.07	3.07	2.25	2.25
Sheffield	14.12	14.12	6.21	6.21	9.43	9.43	18.48	18.48	15.65	15.65	12.49	12.49	22.19	22.19
Shropshire	10.82	10.82	1.90	1.90	12.85	12.85	14.95	14.95	10.44	10.44	7.84	7.84	36.14	36.14
Slough	3.95	3.95	1.57	1.57	5.95	5.95	4.70	4.70	8.54	8.54	4.45	4.45	3.89	3.89
Solihull	8.69	8.69	2.76	2.76	13.86	13.86	15.67	15.67	9.00	9.00	3.17	3.17	15.00	15.00
Somerset	15.12	15.12	2.74	2.74	6.01	6.01	12.47	12.47	15.59	15.59	4.73	4.73	17.17	17.17
South Gloucestershire	11.65	11.65	2.18	2.18	13.61	13.61	17.41	17.41	11.70	11.70	5.66	5.66	28.89	28.89
South Tyneside	5.36	5.36	2.49	2.49	2.25	2.25	2.49	2.49	5.68	5.68	0.95	0.95	5.08	5.08
Southampton	10.72	10.72	2.05	2.05	4.44	4.44	13.73	13.73	12.63	12.63	8.16	8.16	30.32	30.32
Southend-on-Sea	6.79	6.79	1.86	1.86	3.99	3.99	6.83	6.83	7.89	7.89	2.57	2.57	5.22	5.22
Southwark	5.65	5.65	2.87	2.87	7.54	7.54	6.20	6.20	3.70	3.70	4.23	4.23	7.36	7.36
St. Helens	10.52	10.52	1.90	1.90	2.66	2.66	5.00	5.00	10.99	10.99	4.98	4.98	7.03	7.03
Staffordshire	9.32	9.32	5.04	5.04	10.71	10.71	11.83	11.83	9.37	9.37	5.09	5.09	17.48	17.48
Stockport	9.40	9.40	2.70	2.70	14.59	14.59	11.23	11.23	9.82	9.82	10.57	10.57	18.34	18.34
Stockton-on-Tees	18.25	18.25	4.12	4.12	2.21	2.21	15.60	15.60	19.84	19.84	10.49	10.49	18.93	18.93
Stoke-on-Trent	21.40	21.40	12.41	12.41	7.40	7.40	26.09	26.09	24.50	24.50	16.94	16.94	9.93	9.93
Suffolk	10.65	10.65	1.82	1.82	6.80	6.80	8.56	8.56	11.03	11.03	4.50	4.50	15.22	15.22
Sunderland	14.41	14.41	1.60	1.60	1.40	1.40	8.27	8.27	15.65	15.65	2.96	2.96	32.80	32.80
Surrey	7.43	7.43	2.86	2.86	7.03	7.03	8.13	8.13	7.90	7.90	4.68	4.68	9.35	9.35
Sutton	6.20	6.20	1.54	1.54	8.37	8.37	6.48	6.48	8.59	8.59	4.33	4.33	7.10	7.10
Swindon	9.83	9.83	1.86	1.86	7.23	7.23	16.07	16.07	11.08	11.08	7.91	7.91	9.79	9.79
Tameside	14.33	14.33	2.82	2.82	6.76	6.76	12.73	12.73	16.62	16.62	9.85	9.85	26.15	26.15
Telford and Wrekin	11.62	11.62	2.70	2.70	3.36	3.36	10.93	10.93	13.45	13.45	4.49	4.49	9.70	9.70
Thurrock	6.78	6.78	1.16	1.16	4.61	4.61	7.36	7.36	7.50	7.50	1.85	1.85	24.49	24.49
Torbay	15.05	15.05	2.48	2.48	1.45	1.45	13.75	13.75	15.58	15.58	0.00	0.00	12.61	12.61
Tower Hamlets	2.71	2.71	1.38	1.38	5.20	5.20	5.33	5.33	5.83	5.83	3.13	3.13	5.78	5.78
Trafford	3.93	3.93	1.30	1.30	4.44	4.44	8.07	8.07	4.17	4.17	2.64	2.64	7.63	7.63
Wakefield	14.89	14.89	3.95	3.95	4.84	4.84	11.62	11.62	16.04	16.04	2.73	2.73	16.18	16.18
Walsall	5.87	5.87	2.32	2.32	5.22	5.22	8.25	8.25	7.20	7.20	3.70	3.70	7.79	7.79
Waltham Forest	4.91	4.91	2.96	2.96	9.46	9.46	6.91	6.91	3.65	3.65	4.31	4.31	6.98	6.98
Wandsworth	3.62	3.62	1.46	1.46	6.79	6.79	5.70	5.70	2.30	2.30	2.85	2.85	5.51	5.51
Warrington	5.80	5.80	1.85	1.85	11.20	11.20	5.38	5.38	6.10	6.10	4.50	4.50	6.74	6.74
Warwickshire	9.04	9.04	1.46	1.46	7.86	7.86	9.45	9.45	9.78	9.78	5.68	5.68	14.34	14.34
West Berkshire	11.85	11.85	2.35	2.35	5.99	5.99	18.09	18.09	11.85	11.85	22.41	22.41	27.94	27.94
West Northamptonshire	9.21	9.21	1.37	1.37	5.71	5.71	13.47	13.47	9.85	9.85	5.99	5.99	11.84	11.84
West Sussex	7.10	7.10	2.54	2.54	7.04	7.04	7.02	7.02	7.46	7.46	4.49	4.49	7.91	7.91
Westminster	6.57	6.57	3.75	3.75	10.12	10.12	6.65	6.65	3.77	3.77	7.75	7.75	12.43	12.43
Wigan	7.95	7.95	0.76	0.76	3.95	3.95	5.84	5.84	8.41	8.41	5.21	5.21	3.82	3.82
Wiltshire	9.58	9.58	1.31	1.31	4.80	4.80	11.33	11.33	9.82	9.82	4.81	4.81	13.04	13.04
Windsor and Maidenhead	6.07	6.07	3.58	3.58	8.12	8.12	4.89	4.89	6.74	6.74	6.13	6.13	8.59	8.59
Wirral	7.54	7.54	1.66	1.66	6.36	6.36	9.22	9.22	7.74	7.74	8.85	8.85	5.59	5.59
Wokingham	3.90	3.90	1.40	1.40	4.90	4.90	5.60	5.60	4.40	4.40	3.05	3.05	4.20	4.20
Wolverhampton	6.28	6.28	2.15	2.15	6.07	6.07	9.74	9.74	7.87	7.87	3.90	3.90	9.56	9.56
Worcestershire	6.46	6.46	2.77	2.77	5.28	5.28	8.59	8.59	6.58	6.58	1.46	1.46	6.60	6.60
York	12.86	12.86	0.91	0.91	4.42	4.42	6.97	6.97	13.86	13.86	2.02	2.02	8.47	8.47

Download table data (CSV) Source data (CSV)

Summary of Suspensions By ethnicity and local authority Summary

The data shows that:

• the overall suspension rate was highest in Redcar and Cleveland (3,279 for every 10,000 pupils, or 32.79) followed by Middlesborough (2,818 for every 10,000 pupils, or 28.18)

• for White pupils, the highest suspension rate was in Middlesbrough – 3,489 suspensions for every 10,000 pupils, or 34.89

• for pupils from the 'Other' ethnic group, the highest rate was in Redcar and Cleveland – 3,129 suspensions for every 10,000 pupils, or 31.29

• for Asian pupils, the highest suspension rate was in Redcar and Cleveland – 2,966 for every 10,000 pupils, or 29.66

• for pupils from a Mixed ethnic background, the highest rate was in Bradford – 2,790 suspensions for every 10,000 pupils, 27.90 – however, this data is based on a small number of pupils

• for Black pupils, the highest suspension rate was in Northumberland – 1,688 for every 10,000 pupils, or 16.88 – however, this data is based on a small number of pupils

7. By ethnicity and reason

• Location: England
• Time period: 2022 to 2023 school year
• Source: Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England

Percentage and number of suspensions, by ethnicity and reason

	All		Asian		Black		Mixed		White		Other		Unknown
Reason	All %	All Number	Asian %	Asian Number	Black %	Black Number	Mixed %	Mixed Number	White %	White Number	Other %	Other Number	Unknown %	Unknown Number
Abuse against sexual orientation and gender identity	0.3	2,917	0.5	203	0.4	156	0.3	239	0.3	2,165	0.6	74	0.4	80
Abuse relating to disability	0.0	354	0.1	23	0.0	21	0.0	26	0.0	273	0.0	6	0.0	5
Bullying	1.0	8,822	1.7	669	1.7	712	1.2	849	0.8	6,159	1.7	215	1.0	218
Damage	2.9	27,199	2.7	1,035	3.1	1,288	3.3	2,229	2.9	21,806	2.8	362	2.3	479
Drug and alcohol related	2.6	24,073	4.4	1,706	2.7	1,141	2.9	1,961	2.5	18,296	3.2	414	2.7	555
Inappropritae use of social media or online technology	1.2	11,419	2.7	1,053	2.6	1,117	1.6	1,095	1.0	7,534	2.5	325	1.4	295
Persistent disruptive behaviour	48.0	444,676	32.3	12,454	31.2	13,177	41.8	28,534	50.5	375,804	37.2	4,811	47.4	9,896
Physical assault against a pupil	13.4	124,276	24.0	9,259	24.9	10,507	16.3	11,149	11.8	87,481	22.2	2,875	14.4	3,005
Physical assault against an adult	5.6	52,237	4.4	1,711	7.8	3,278	6.8	4,665	5.5	40,955	4.9	638	4.7	990
Racist abuse	1.3	11,619	2.9	1,107	1.8	776	1.4	925	1.1	8,227	2.2	291	1.4	293
Sexual misconduct	0.6	5,940	1.2	474	1.4	575	0.7	479	0.6	4,122	1.2	161	0.6	129
Theft	0.7	6,681	1.4	527	1.9	815	1.0	657	0.6	4,321	1.3	173	0.9	188
Use or threat of use of an offensive weapon or prohibited item	1.5	14,289	3.7	1,410	2.2	934	1.7	1,153	1.4	10,118	2.4	305	1.8	369
Verbal abuse/ threatening behaviour against a pupil	4.4	40,388	5.7	2,215	6.3	2,657	5.1	3,452	4.1	30,474	5.3	686	4.3	904
Verbal abuse/ threatening behaviour against an adult	16.1	148,831	11.7	4,495	11.3	4,763	15.6	10,649	16.7	124,073	11.7	1,518	16.0	3,333
Wilful and repeated transgression of protective measures in place to protect public health	0.4	3,366	0.6	213	0.6	259	0.4	282	0.3	2,400	0.7	86	0.6	126

Download table data (CSV) Source data (CSV)

Summary of Suspensions By ethnicity and reason Summary

The data shows that:

• overall, the most common reasons for suspensions were persistent disruptive behaviour (48.0%), verbal abuse or threatening behaviour against an adult (16.1%), and physical assault against a pupil (13.4%)

• the least common reasons for suspensions were abuse relating to disability (less than 0.1%), abuse against sexual orientation and gender identity (0.3%), and wilful and repeated transgression of protective measures in place to protect public health (0.4%)

• persistent disruptive behaviour was the most common reason why White (50.5%), Black (31.2%), Asian (32.3%) pupils and pupils with Mixed ethnicity (41.8%) were suspended

8. Data sources

Source

Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England

Type of data

Administrative data

Type of statistic

Official statistics

Publisher

Department for Education

Publication frequency

Yearly

Purpose of data source

The data presents statistics for; reasons schools report for excluding and suspending pupils exclusions and suspensions by pupil characteristics

9. Download the data

Suspensions national 2022/23 - Spreadsheet (csv) - Spreadsheet (csv) 172 KB

This file contains the following variables: measure, time, time_type, ethnicity, ethnicity_type, geography, geography_type, type_of_school, value (suspension rate), value_type, numerator (number of suspensions), denominator (pupils)

Suspensions local authority 2022/23 - Spreadsheet (csv) - Spreadsheet (csv) 1 MB

This file contains the following variables: measure, time, time_type, geography, geography_type, geography_code, ethnicity, ethnicity_type, type_of_school, value (suspension rate), value_type, numerator (number of suspensions), denominator (pupils)

Suspensions reasons 2022/23 - Spreadsheet - Spreadsheet (csv) 43 KB

This file contains the following variables: measure, time, time_type, ethnicity, ethnicity_type, geography, geography_type, reason (for suspension), value (percentage), value_type, numerator, denominator

Publication release date: 18 December 2024

full page history

1. 18 December 2024 Updated with data for the 2022 to 2023 school year.

From: Department for Education

Previous editions:

1. 8 February 2024
2. 7 February 2023
3. 4 September 2020
4. 1 April 2019
5. 1 March 2018

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