Agenda item

To receive the report on school exclusions in Haringey.

RECEIVED the report on the Analysis of Fixed Term and Permanent Exclusions – Academic Year 2008/9 and Academic Year 2009/10, introduced by the Deputy Director – Children’s Network and Avi Becker (Business Intelligence Manager).

The Committee welcomed Martin Tissot, Headteacher of St Thomas More School, which had a high number of exclusions during 2009/10 in comparison to other schools and noted the responses to advance questions on the report.  A discussion followed.

NOTED

• In response to an urgent matter raised by Cllr Allison in relation to a child protection case it was agreed that the Director of Children’s Services would circulate a legal briefing to the Committee and Cllr Allison detailing how sensitive child protection information was shared on a “need to know basis” (Action No. 250.1).

• The Committee requested that in future the exclusions data be analysed by the nature of the offences committed (Action No. 250.1). 
• Members suggested that best practice in dealing with exclusions in schools be streamlined across all schools and were informed that, although schools had to comply with national guidance, each school set its own boundaries for behaviour and consequences of poor behaviour.  The local authority provided head teachers with the forums to come together to discuss good practice and advise schools on how other schools have dealt with similar incidents.
• The Headteacher of St Thomas More School explained that a school’s Governing Body determined the school’s behaviour policy/exclusions policy although the head teacher had the ultimate responsibility.  A school’s governing body could overturn a head teacher’s decision to exclude a pupil, particularly if national guidance had not been followed.  Some schools might not exclude a child for fighting but if a child was found to be the perpetrator of a fight more than once at St Thomas More School they would be excluded. 
• In response to concerns raised by the Committee officers recognised that there was an issue around the high proportion of children from ethnic groups being excluded from school and highlighted that these groups were also over represented in other areas such as youth crime.  There was a general consensus that more work with these groups was required and that those children who failed at school were likely to be part of statistics for youth crime and such other areas in the future as well has having a budgetary impact as children not in education, employment or training (NEET).
• The academic impact of exclusions on pupils was recognised but Members were reminded that schools had a duty to protect the other children in schools from harm and distraction from learning. Excluded children attended pupil referral units as soon as possible during exclusions.
• Mr Tissot explained that his school worked on trying to avoid exclusions through mentoring and managed moves to other schools. He explained that he had recently taken over as head teacher at the school and there had been a high number of exclusions in the autumn term as new expectations of behaviour were being set.  The numbers of exclusions were expected to reduce rapidly in the current term.
• The Committee noted that the Council tracked children in other boroughs who had previously been excluded from schools in Haringey and children in care who and those with statements who were likely to experience difficulties in schools.  The Council worked closely with these children putting plans in place to ensure that they attended and remained in school.

RESOLVED to note the report.