Huge number of pupils excluded as aggression in schools grows

The region's teachers had to deal with at least 8,685 allegations of assault by one pupil against another between April 2006 and March 2009 –and the true figure is likely to be much higher.

A Yorkshire Post investigation also found that, over the same period, more than 4,000 staff members at Yorkshire schools and colleges reported being attacked by individual children.

Head teachers authorised at least 511 permanent expulsions and 26,252 temporary suspensions – including more than 1,000 affecting primary school pupils – following reports of violence.

But the true scale of the problem is likely to be even greater as some Yorkshire councils were unable to provide figures.

Tory Shadow Home Office Minister James Brokenshire said authorities needed to do more to prevent young people progressing down the "conveyor belt of crime".

"We would ensure there is greater discipline in schools with head teachers having the right to exclude pupils and enable schools to make behaviour contracts legally enforceable," he said.

"But exclusion itself can be a significant marker for future criminal behaviour. That's why we would reform pupil referral units to ensure that they adopt the best practice of those graded by Ofsted as outstanding and of special schools that cater for children with behavioural difficulties.

"The aim has to be to get troubled youngsters back into mainstream education as quickly as possible."

A report from HM Inspectorate of Prisons and the Youth Justice Board has shown that nine in 10 children in custody had previously been excluded from school.

Chief inspector of prisons Dame Anne Owers said the findings showed "the continuing and even more important need to invest in these children and young people before they reach the criminal justice system, and to provide them with the support they need afterwards".

Penelope Gibbs, director of the Out of Trouble programme for the Prison Reform Trust, said the report shed "important light" on "what goes wrong" before children are put in custody.

"So much more can be done to stop children getting into trouble in the first place," she added.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said good behaviour and an "atmosphere of respect" should be the norm in all schools.

"Ofsted tells us that behaviour is a significant concern in only two per cent of secondary schools," she added.

"We have given head teachers clear legal powers to enforce discipline which means they can get tough on poor behaviour without fear of being taken to court, including using reasonable force to control or restrain pupils.

"Parents should also take their responsibilities seriously. The Children, Schools and Families Bill proposes new strengthened home-school agreements setting out expectations on parents and making clear their responsibilities for their child's behaviour.

"The Bill will give schools stronger powers to enforce these agreements when parents do not."

ASSAULTS IN SCHOOLS

Permanent Fixed-term

Exclusions Exclusions

Bradford 31 2,291

Calderdale 17 785 (2006-08)

Doncaster 77 2,129 (2005-08)

East Riding 17 2,096

Hull 72 1,551

Kirklees 58 2,438

Leeds 75 3,981

NE Lincs 0 7 (2007-08)

North Yorks 64 2,489

Rotherham 27 2,203

Sheffield 4 3,301

Wakefeld 52 2,142

York 17 837

Figures for 2006-09 unless otherwise stated. NB. Some councils were unable to provide figures.