Number of pupil exclusions for bullying on the rise in Yorkshire's schools

Yorkshire is the only region in England to see a rise in the number of pupil exclusions for bullying in the last two school years.

According to the latest Government figures, across England the average number of exclusions for bullying dropped by 14 per cent between 2016/17 and 2017/18.

However, in Yorkshire it rose by two per cent from 340 pupils to 348, with one bullying exclusion per 2,472 students up from one in 2,410 students the previous year.

The local authorities with the biggest increase between the two school years were Wakefield with 84 per cent, Sheffield with 57 per cent and North Yorkshire with 49 per cent.

North Yorkshire had the most exclusions in the region last year with a total of 70. It was also the only authority to report a permanent exclusion as a result of bullying.

Coun Patrick Mulligan, executive member for education and skills at North Yorkshire County Council, said: “The local authority and North Yorkshire schools take bullying very seriously. Schools have a responsibility to make sure a plan is in place to tackle bullying appropriately.”

Children’s charity Childline has warned that the rise of social media is making it harder than ever for children to protect themselves from abuse, with bullying “no longer stopping at the school gates”.