Commenting as new figures showed the number of school suspensions dropped by 4% in 2024/25 to 913,000, while exclusions fell 9% to 9,900, Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“Decisions to suspend or exclude pupils are a last resort and only made when necessary to avoid disruption to the learning of all children and ensure the safety of peers and staff.

“While it is positive to see this downward trend after the increases since the pandemic, it is clear a sustained effort is needed to tackle the root causes of poor behaviour, which often originate from challenges in children’s lives outside the classroom, from poverty to mental health issues.

“Schools alone are not equipped to address them all and often struggle to help pupils access professional support in the community amid high thresholds for support and long waiting lists.

“The government’s investment in early years and initiatives like family hubs is positive, but must also be supported with more funding for social care, mental health services and to ensure its much-needed reforms of the special educational needs (SEND) system can be delivered effectively.”

The figures show suspensions fell in secondary and special schools but increased over the full year in primaries. Exclusion rates decreased in secondary schools and remained stable in primary and special schools.