NAHT has responding to a new report from the Education Policy Institute which found that higher rates of 'internal exclusion' at schools in three London local authorities are associated with higher frequencies and rates of suspension. It comes ahead of promised Department for Education guidance on how 'internal suspensions' should be used by schools to help reduce external suspensions.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said: “Schools almost always use suspensions as a very last resort after other responses have been tried and when pupils’ behaviour is so serious that there is no alternative or it could affect the safety of themselves and others.

“Many schools already use internal suspensions as one way of managing disruptive behaviour and while the White Paper proposals could bring more consistency they do not appear to change the discretion head teachers - who know their schools and pupils best - rightly have to decide what form suspensions take.

“Although this survey is just a small snapshot, it is a reminder that, ultimately, suspensions in whatever form can only be part of a wider approach to responding to behaviour and may not themselves tackle underlying challenges like mental health issues or the effects of poverty which lie beyond the reach of schools to address.

“Without greater investment in services, such as CAMHS and social care, schools will in many cases be responding to a symptom, through suspensions, without ever being able to address the root causes.”