Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of school exclusions.

It is critical for schools to be calm and disciplined environments, for pupils and teaching staff. The Department backs head teachers in using exclusion where warranted. We are clear that there is no right number of exclusions, and permanent exclusion should only be used as a last resort. Exclusion from school should not mean exclusion from high-quality education.

The Department is pursuing an ambitious programme of work to improve school behaviour. We are working to improve the availability of good alternative provision, so that permanently excluded children, and children at risk of exclusion, receive high-quality education and support suited to their needs. This includes a £10 million investment in behaviour hubs, which will enable schools and multi-academy trusts with exemplary behaviour cultures and practices to work in partnership with those that want to improve pupil behaviour. We are also working with Ofsted to eliminate on off-rolling.

The Department will also revise guidance on exclusions to make it clearer and more consistent, so that head teachers have the information they need to use exclusion properly and proportionately.