2,172 pupils excluded in year

NEARLY 500 suspensions were handed out to Oldham school children for assaulting a teacher or fellow pupil last year.

Figures from the Department for Education (DfE) show 2,172 suspensions — where pupils are excluded for a fixed period — were given to Oldham pupils in 2008-9 compared with 2,110 the previous year.

A breakdown reveals 330 suspensions were for physical assault on a pupil, and a further 140 incidents in which a pupil attacked an adult.

Verbally abusing an adult accounted for 521 suspensions, and 665 were for persistent bad behaviour.

In addition, 96 pupils were disciplined for drug and alcohol-related incidents, 38 for theft and 24 for sexual misconduct.

The DfE figures also show 91 pupils were permanently excluded from Oldham’s schools, compared with 90 in 2007-8. Of those expelled, 12 were for assault on an adult, 12 for assault on a pupil and a further 12 for verbal or threatening behaviour towards an adult.

Councillor Jack Hulme, Oldham Council’s Cabinet member for children and families, said: “This data shows that our rate of permanent exclusions and fixed term exclusions are about the same as they were for the previous academic year.

“During that year our schools began to work together to implement new strategies aimed at improving behaviour.

“Our provisional data for 2009-10 shows that permanent exclusions have dropped significantly to 52. The rate of fixed term exclusions has also gone down to 1,467.

“These more recent figures are very encouraging.”