Rise in primary school exclusions 'unacceptable'

A rise in the number of primary school children being expelled due to bad behaviour is a "shocking indictment on society", say councillors.

On Tuesday senior members of North Yorkshire Council agreed to lower the age at which its pupil referral units (PRU) would take children excluded from school from 11 to five.

Councillors agreed to the change after hearing how permanent exclusions of primary school children had increased from five in 2021/22 to 25 in 2024/25.

Councillor Mark Crane, executive member for open to business, said the rise was "unacceptable", adding: "If my child of that age was excluded from school, I'd be looking at myself first of all."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Crane told the meeting: "I appreciate it's the national trend and not just in North Yorkshire, but it really is a shocking indictment on parts of society that we're facing this problem."

Members of the executive approved lowering the age limit at the council's three RPUs — the Rubicon Centre, in Selby, the Sunbeck Centre, in Northallerton, and the Craven Pupil Referral Service, in Skipton.

The PRUs provide tailored support for excluded children and support them to return to mainstream education.

A placement at the PRU costs £19,810 a year per child, with the authority planning to create 30 new places at a cost of more than £594,000.

Councillor Janet Sanderson, executive member for children and families, told the meeting: "I'm really disappointed in the number of primary excluded children of that age that are coming in — for goodness sake, what are we doing?

"I've totally taken on board that it's a national problem, and I know that the government is trying to address it, but you can't go on like this without actually highlighting the problem we face."

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