A recent report has highlighted the concerning trend of children with special educational needs facing suspensions and exclusions in schools, often without receiving the necessary support. The Runnymede Trust, a racial justice charity, uncovered a significant issue of under-diagnosis of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) among students from minority ethnic backgrounds, particularly Black boys.
The study revealed that Black children, those with SEND, and students on free school meals are disproportionately represented in school suspensions and exclusions. Researchers raised alarm over vulnerable pupils being excluded to safeguard exam results rather than addressing underlying issues such as unmet SEND needs, racial biases, or safeguarding deficiencies.
During the 2023/24 academic year, there were approximately 955,000 suspensions, marking a 21% increase from the previous year and the highest level since 20026. Of these, nearly 11,000 were permanent exclusions. Official data indicated that children with identified needs were over three times more likely to be suspended, while students eligible for free school meals were more than four times as likely compared to their peers.
The report also shed light on disparities in suspension rates among different ethnic groups, with White British pupils having an average rate of 13.69 per 100 pupils, whereas Black Caribbean and Mixed White and Black Caribbean pupils had rates of 15.63 and 20.63, respectively. The study highlighted how racial biases and stereotypes contribute to the disproportionate exclusion of Black boys from schools.
Parents shared distressing accounts of their children’s experiences, with incidents like a child being suspended for bringing a water pistol to school being cited. The report emphasized that such exclusions not only harm the children but also have lasting negative effects on their families.
Dr. Shabna Begum, the chief executive of the Runnymede Trust, underscored the detrimental impact of exclusions on a child’s future and criticized the current culture of exclusion in schools. Efforts are underway to reform the SEND system, with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson working on plans to address the issues and overhaul the system in an upcoming white paper.
The report called for better training for teachers in handling special educational needs and the implementation of national standards to address the challenges faced by the SEND system, which is currently under significant strain.