Secondary school suspension rates in the Isle of Wight have risen by over 20% since 2023/24.
In the Isle of Wight Council’s Children’s Services, Education and Skills Committee report, it was revealed that suspension rates in mainstream secondary schools surged to 26.9% in the 2023/24 academic year.
The figure was shown to have increased in comparison to the 5.6% of students suspended the year prior.
In the committee meeting on Thursday August 14, councillors discussed concerns about school attendance and how to improve the children’s education system in the area.
‘There will be suspensions, but they’ve got to be for the right reasons, not because the school’s not dealing with that child’, said Cllr Brading, chair of the meeting.
‘School attendance is our priority’, said council officer Kay Jones.
She added that colleagues working in education, inclusion and access are addressing issues relating to attendance and exclusions, explaining that further details are not currently available, but would be provided in a letter of response before the commencement of the new school term.
To read more about school-related anxiety, check out: Reducing School Stress: The Role of Local Government.
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