THE number of children suspended from state-funded schools in St Helens has soared since 2010, government figures have revealed.

According to data from the Department for Education (DfE), 6,236 fixed period exclusions were enforced by state-funded primary, secondary and special schools between 2010-11 and 2016-17.

In 2010-11, a total of 550 fixed period exclusions were issued by schools in St Helens. By 2016-17 this had risen to 1,584 – a 188 per cent increase.

This is far higher than the rise nationally, which has seen an 18 per cent rise in fixed period exclusions in state-funded schools since 2010-11 across England.

The biggest percentage increase in St Helens has been in primary schools, with 210 fixed period exclusions in 2016-17 compared to 61 in 2010-11, a 260 per cent rise.

In state-funded secondary schools, there were 422 fixed period exclusions in 2010-11, rising to 1,293 by 2016-17, an increase of 206 per cent.

In the borough’s state-funded special schools, there has been a 16 per cent increase in the number of fixed period exclusions from 2010-11 to 2016-17.

The most common reason for issuing fixed period exclusions in 2016-17 is for “persistent disruptive behaviour”, followed by “verbal abuse/threatening behaviour against an adult”.

A spokesman for St Helens Council said: “There has been a rise in fixed-period exclusions nationally, regionally and in St Helens over the period 2013-14 to 2016-17.

“The number of fixed-period exclusions in the borough over this period was higher than both regional and national figures.

“However, the unvalidated data for St Helens for the academic year 2017-18 shows a decrease in the number of fixed-period exclusions.

“Training on the new DfE guidance to both governing bodies and headteachers is being offered by the local authority in an effort to establish good practice and to inform on preventative measures in the hope that fixed-period exclusions will fall even further in the coming years.”

While fixed period exclusions have been rising, permanent exclusions have remained low and fairly static over the past five years.

However, the number of pupils referred to pupil referral units (PRU) is much higher.

PRUs are a type of school established and run by the local authority specifically for pupils who cannot attend a mainstream school, either through illness or exclusion.

According to school census data, there were 23 times more children taking GSCEs in PRUs in St Helens in 2016-2017 than the number officially expelled over the three-year period leading up to the exams.

Last month, Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner for England, aired concerns about the use of PRUs nationally in response to a report on school exclusions from the education select committee.

The Children’s Commissioner said the report backs up claims that some schools, nationally, are removing vulnerable children to improve their overall exam results.

 Currently there are two registered PRUs in operation within the borough.

A St Helens Council spokesman said: “Pupil referral units in St Helens are not just for students that have been excluded from school for behavioural issues.

“There are facilities in the borough that act as safe havens for students that cannot access mainstream secondary school due to medial, complex, and emotional needs.

“These include a Key Stage 4 referral unit and a medical needs tuition base where pupils have the opportunity to sit GCSEs and an alternative provision strand which gives pupils the opportunity to access vocational qualifications and work placements.

“All secondary schools in the borough work very closely together via the Fair Access panel to minimise permanent exclusions giving pupils a chance to succeed in a different learning environment.”