§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of pupils were excluded in 1999–2000. [4808]
§ Mr. TimmsThe Department collects data on permanent exclusions but not on fixed term exclusions. Information on permanent exclusions is shown in the table.
Number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the school population, January 1999–2000 Percentage1 Maintained Primary 0.03 Maintained Secondary 0.21 Special 0.40 All Schools 0.11 1The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of full and part-time pupils of all ages (excluding dually registered pupils in special schools) in January The latest permanent exclusions data were published in a Statistical First Release "Permanent Exclusions from Schools, England 1999/2000" on 19 July, copies of which are available from the Library, or alternatively can be accessed from the Department for Education and Skills statistical website www.dfes.gsi.gov.uk/statistics.
§ Linda PerhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance her Department provides to schools and local education authorities concerning temporary and permanent exclusion policies. [5019]
§ Mr. TimmsThe Department's Circular 10/99, Social Inclusion: Pupil Support, contains the Secretary of State's guidance on the appropriate use of exclusion—both fixed term and permanent—procedures to be followed on exclusion and provides guidance on the duties and roles of those involved in the process. My right hon. Friend intends to consult schools on changing the guidance in order to provide more support for head teachers.
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§ Linda PerhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to collect statistics on the number of children and young people who receive fixed-term exclusions from schools. [5027]
§ Mr. TimmsLocal education authorities collect data from their schools on fixed-term exclusions. These data are not collated nationally, nor are there currently plans to do so.