Number of pupils being suspended from schools in England balloons by a third in ... trends now
The number of pupils being suspended from school in England has risen by nearly a third in a year to more than 260,000, Government figures have revealed.
Data from the Department for Education (DfE) shows there were 263,904 suspensions in the spring term of 2022/23, compared to 201,090 during the spring term of 2021/22 - a rise of 31%.
The number of suspensions in spring 2023 is the 'highest' termly figure recorded, the DfE said.
Shocking stories have emerged of teachers being assaulted, pupils throwing objects across classrooms, skipping lessons and beating each other up.
It has led many frightened teachers to contact their teaching unions and groups to say they are 'acting like social workers', whilst also fearing for their jobs.
Data from the Department for Education (DfE) shows there were 263,904 suspensions in the spring term of 2022/23, compared to 201,090 during the spring term of 2021/22 - a rise of 31%
The number of suspensions in spring 2023 is the 'highest' termly figure recorded (file image)
Teaching unions and groups have previously said they have been contacted by frightened teachers who are fearing for their jobs and several who are 'acting like social workers' (file image)
Suspensions are typically higher in the autumn term, but the figures show the number rose by 7% from autumn 2022 (when there were 247,366 suspensions) to spring 2023.
The rise of suspensions - which are when a pupil is excluded from a school for a set period of time - comes amid warnings of challenging behaviour in classrooms following the Covid-19 pandemic.
The number of permanent exclusions also increased in the spring term of last year compared to the same period in 2022.
There were 3,039 permanent exclusions in spring 2023, compared to 2,179 in spring 2022 - a rise of 39%, the figures show.
The most common reason for suspensions and permanent exclusions was persistent disruptive behaviour, the DfE said.
One school teacher in Tower Hamlets, where recent data showed there were cases of children being suspended for using knives, screwdrivers and even a BB gun, told MailOnline: 'It
