Report: Pupils who have been suspended twice are twice as likely to be out of work or education by 24
The report highlights the increase in suspension rates since the COVID-19 lockdowns, with 786,961 suspensions occurring during the 2022/2023 school year.
An investigation found that individuals who were suspended during secondary school are twice as likely to be out of education, training, or employment by the age of 24.
Students who experienced suspension at least once were also 2.1 times more likely to not achieve a Level 3 qualification like A-Levels by the age of 19, as per a study conducted by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) that was released on Tuesday.
Termed the “suspension employment gap” by the EPI, the study revealed that students who were suspended were 2.5 times more likely to receive out-of-work benefits and 2.7 times more likely to receive health-related benefits by the age of 24.
Commissioned by the youth education charity Impetus, the study stated that the connection between suspension and outcomes in early adulthood may be indirect, but the students’ performance at GCSE plays a vital role in this association.
Explaining the findings, the report mentioned that missing even a few days of school has a negative impact on achievement. Additionally, there is mounting evidence suggesting that school exclusion leads to adverse outcomes in adulthood such as reduced earnings and poorer health.
Rise in Suspension Rates
“While it is expected that suspended students face worse outcomes, we now have quantified the severity of these outcomes, shedding light on the ’employment grades gap’ for the first time,” remarked Carlie Goldsmith, senior policy advisor at Impetus.
Goldsmith emphasized the importance of supporting students struggling to engage in an educational setting, stating that it should be a government priority given the long-term implications for individuals and society at large.
“We should strive for lower exclusion rates not solely for the sake of it, but because it would indicate a more efficient education system for both students and educators,” she added.
Government statistics for the 2022/2023 school year revealed a significant rise in suspensions, with a total of 786,961 instances—where a student is temporarily barred from school—marking a 36% increase from the previous year.
The number of permanent exclusions, where a pupil is expelled and not permitted to return, surged by 44% from 6,495 in 2021/2022 to 9,376 in the following year.
A representative from DfE expressed shock at the recent school suspension figures, asserting the government’s commitment to addressing the root causes of poor behavior through initiatives such as providing access to mental health professionals and implementing free breakfast clubs in schools.
Post-Lockdown Behavioral Issues
Exclusions and suspensions rose against the backdrop of concerns that schools were grappling with elevated behavioral challenges following the COVID-19 lockdowns.
An academic report funded by the Nuffield Foundation highlighted the detrimental impact of lockdown-induced school closures on learning progress, as well as the lack of in-person mentoring and social interaction.
Teachers reported increased behavior issues in classrooms post-pandemic, with a significant decline in socio-emotional skills among successive Covid cohorts according to the think tank.
The National Governance Association (NGA) noted the persistent effects of lockdown “aftershocks” on schools, with reports of heightened behavioral challenges and concerns over mental health and self-harm among students.
‘Ghost Children’
The post-lockdown period contributed to a rise in “ghost children”—students who are consistently absent.
Government data from March showed a surge in unauthorized school absences in England during the 2022/2023 academic year, nearly doubling the pre-pandemic rate when schools transitioned to remote learning.
Sergeant highlighted two categories of children challenging schools to reengage with: those plagued by anxiety and those consumed by anger, the latter group exhibiting high levels of aggression leading to disengagement from education.
PA Media contributed to this report.
