Disaffected Pupils (Hansard, 15 November 2000)

§ Mr. Coaker
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is his assessment of the current trend in(a) permanent exclusions and (b) fixed term exclusions.[138266]

§ Jacqui Smith
The rate of permanent exclusions is falling. In 1998–99, the latest year for which data are available, there were 10,400 permanent exclusions compared to 12,300 in 1997–98—a 15 per cent. reduction. We are on course to achieve the national target of 8,400 by 2002.
Data on fixed period exclusions are not collected centrally, but Ofsted estimated in its report "Exclusions from secondary schools" (1995–96) that there are around 100,000 a year. Some of these may be repeat exclusions of the same child.

§ Mr. Coaker
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many pupils are officially classified as Education Otherwise.[138267]

§ Jacqui Smith
In the January 2000 Annual Schools' Census, nearly 24,000 students were reported as receiving education otherwise than at school, including those at Pupil Referral Units. We do not collect centrally the number of pupils educated at home by their parents.

§ Mr. Coaker
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what discussions his Department has had with excluded young people about the causes of their disaffection.[138292]

§ Jacqui Smith
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him to his supplementary question on 26 October 2000,Official Report, columns 368-69 and to my answer of 9 November 2000, Official Report, columns 358-59W.

§ Mr. Coaker
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he has taken to ensure teachers are able to deal effectively with poor behaviour.[138293]

§ Jacqui Smith
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 26 October 2000,Official Report, column 368, and that given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for School Standards on 26 October 2000, Official Report, column 293W.
678W
As a result of representations from headteachers, we recently issued new guidance for exclusion appeal panels which indicates that the headteacher's decision to exclude should not be overridden in a range of circumstances including where there is violence or the threat of violence.

§ Mr. Coaker
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment he has made of the impact of poor behaviour on(a) the achievement of individual schools and (b) the morale of teachers. [138294]

§ Jacqui Smith
On(a) I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 12 April 2000, Official Report, column 184W.
On (b) we are aware that low morale can sometimes result if teachers feel unable to deal adequately with poor behaviour. That is why we are providing record levels of funding to help schools better manage poor behaviour and why we have made clear that where necessary headteachers can permanently exclude the most disruptive or violent pupils.

§ Mr. Coaker
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to ensure greater recognition of the achievement of schools and teachers who deal most effectively with disaffected pupils.[138295]

§ Jacqui Smith
Disaffection is often manifested by irregular attendance or prolonged truancy. As part of our wider drive to cut truancy levels, the 50 schools which achieve the most in cutting truancy levels in challenging circumstances will have the chance to win a "Truancy Buster" award of up to £10,000 to help them act as Excellence Centres. The first awards will be made early in the new year.
Beacon status is another way in which we recognise the achievement of schools, and tackling disaffection is one area in which Beacon schools are working to help spread effective practices to other schools.