Fall in school exclusions for alcohol and drug issues in Nottinghamshire

The number of Nottinghamshire school pupils being excluded for drug and alcohol issues has fallen.
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Department for Education figures show Nottinghamshire schools excluded students 83 times for drug and alcohol-related issues in 2018-19 – five permanently and 78 temporarily.

However, this was a decrease on the year before, when there were 101.

All exclusions occurred in state-funded secondary schools, with none in special schools or in primary schools.

The number of pupils being excluded for drugs and alcohol issues has fallen in Nottinghamshire. Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty ImagesThe number of pupils being excluded for drugs and alcohol issues has fallen in Nottinghamshire. Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
The number of pupils being excluded for drugs and alcohol issues has fallen in Nottinghamshire. Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

The National Association for Children of Alcoholics said the statistics were ‘worrying’ and unless the underlying causes were addressed the number excluded may continue to rise.

Dr Piers Henriques, head of communications at the charity, said: "So often, for young people, substance misuse occurs as a coping mechanism for wider challenges, such as mental health problems or family discord.

"School exclusion will be justified in individual cases.

"However, it is only with improved support and inclusion for young people with hard lives that we will begin to see these numbers fall.

"We need better, earlier interventions in schools that seek to support rather than bluntly punish these young people."

The total number of exclusions nationwide also increased between 2017-18 and 2018-19, from 419,000 to 446,000, prompting the formation of an all-party parliamentary group on exclusions in recent months.

The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) which will act as secretariat for the group, said the future looks ‘desperately bleak’ for many children forced out of school.

James Scales, head of education at the CSJ, said: "Just four per cent of pupils who sit their GCSEs in alternative providers get a standard pass in English and maths.

"By bringing together cross-party voices and sector leaders, this new parliamentary group gives us a chance to put that right – both by acting earlier to reduce avoidable exclusions and by being more ambitious for excluded pupils."

There were 5,595 total exclusions in Nottinghamshire in 2018-19, a decrease of 15 per cent on the year before, when there were 6,579.

A Department for Education spokesman said: “We are clear that expulsion should only be used as a last resort, and should not mean exclusion from high quality education or support.

“We will always back headteachers to use expulsion when required as part of creating calm and disciplined classrooms, which bring out the best in every pupil."

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