Record number of suspensions at Blackburn and Darwen schools

A spokesperson for the council said it works closely with schools, adding that Blackburn with Darwen’s rate of suspensions is lower than the north west and national average.

However, Department for Education figures show there were 592 suspensions of students at Blackburn with Darwen schools during the 2022-23 autumn term, more than 19 per cent up from the same period the year before (495).

This was the highest number of any term since comparable figures began at the start of the 2016-17 academic year.

In the 70 schools in Blackburn with Darwen, the most suspensions (504) were given at secondary schools, while there were 71 at primary schools and 17 suspensions at special schools.

In England, the overall suspension rate was 2.96, meaning there were 296 suspensions per 10,000 students.

In the north west, the overall suspension rate was 2.99, and in Blackburn with Darwen the rate was 2.15.

Councillor Julie Gunn, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s executive member for children, young people and education, said: “Suspensions in Blackburn with Darwen are closely monitored and tracked.

"While Blackburn with Darwen follows the national trend, the rate of suspensions is significantly lower than the regional and national comparators.

“This shows that as a local authority we work closely with our schools and settings to promote and deliver a variety of early help strategies for children and young people.

“Our special educational needs and disabilities support service provides specialist advice and over the last 18 months we have rolled out an emotional, health and well-being audit and toolkit with the support of the mental health in schools teams to promote greater inclusivity and to ensure staff use a trauma informed lens.

“The work in these areas continues and as always we would welcome greater investment in all early help strategies from the Government.”

Some experts said the substantial increase in pupil suspensions across schools in England is due to deteriorating mental health, unmet special educational needs and a lack of funding in local services, while others have pointed at deteriorating behaviour due to poor parenting and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

They called on the Government to invest in early intervention services “to stop things spiralling into crisis for children".

Nationally, there were more than 247,000 suspensions during the autumn term last year – a record high and a substantial increase on almost 184,000 in the 2021-22 autumn term.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “This increase in suspensions mirrors what we are hearing from schools about a rise in challenging pupil behaviour since the pandemic.

“That is partly associated with the pandemic itself and the sense among some pupils that normal rules no longer apply, but it is also more deeply-seated in deteriorating mental health, unmet special educational needs, lack of funding and erosion of family support services over a longer period. It is putting huge pressure on school leaders and staff.

“Early intervention is the key to preventing behaviour issues spiralling to the point of suspensions and exclusions.

“But doing that requires a commitment on the part of the Government to sufficient investment in schools and local services. That is sadly lacking at present.”

Permanent exclusions were also on the rise last year, with 3,100 students expelled from schools during the autumn term – 1,000 more than the year before.

In Blackburn with Darwen, 12 pupils had to look for a new school after being expelled.

Iryna Pona, head of policy at The Children’s Society said: “Exclusion must be a measure of last resort. When children exhibit changes in behaviour, the priority should be understanding and addressing the underlying causes.

“To do this effectively, schools must be equipped with the right resources and training.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “We back heads to use suspensions and permanent exclusions where required as part of behaviour management, so they can provide calm, safe, and supportive environments where both pupils and staff can work in safety and are respected.

“However, we are clear that permanent exclusion should only be used as a last resort and should not mean exclusion for education.

“We have issued updated statutory guidance making clear that early intervention should be put in place where pupils are at risk of being permanently excluded and entering alternative provision, and have invested £10million in the behaviour hubs programme to support schools to improve behaviour.”