Ofsted writes to South Yorkshire schools about high exclusion rates
Our county's got some of the highest exclusion rates in the country
Inspectors say they're worried too many children are being excluded from secondary schools across South Yorkshire.
Our county's got some of the highest rates in the country - with more than 20,000 exclusions in a period of 12 months.
Ofsted are now writing to headteachers with concerns about the figures.
Cathy Kirby's their regional co-ordinator for our area - she says exclusions should only be used as a last resort:
"If they're not in school - if school doesn't know where they are, it doesn't know where they aren't. I think there is potentially a safeguarding element attached to this also. There is a link between exclusion and subsequent underachievement, increased offending rates and limited ambition for later life.
“So I am asking inspectors to look very carefully at the use of exclusion in areas with high rates compared with national and regional figures. We want to be certain that pupils are being removed for the right reasons.”
Stats show in Barnsley an average of more than 1 in 10 kids have been excluded at least once.
Cathy says it's worrying:
"Children are missing education and, in our area of the country, outcomes for 16 year olds are not as strong as they could be so we really don't want children missing education unless it's absolutely essential."
“Schools should only ever use exclusions as a last resort. If not properly applied, being removed from school can disrupt a child’s education and affect their future life chances."