The Department for Education released its annual statistics on 9 July 2026. Suspensions across state-funded schools in England fell to 913,000 in 2024-25, a 4 per cent decline from 955,000 the previous year. The suspension rate stood at 10.88 per 10,000 pupils, down from 11.31. Permanent exclusions dropped to 9,900, 9 per cent lower than 10,900, with the rate easing from 0.13 to 0.12 per 10,000 pupils.
This marks the first year-on-year reduction in both measures since the disruption of the Covid period. Persistent disruptive behaviour remained the dominant recorded reason, accounting for 52 per cent of suspensions and 40 per cent of exclusions. The figures suggest schools are regaining ground on restoring order after years of elevated disruption.
Yet the data also records increases in sanctions for some of the most serious categories of misconduct. Schools Week analysis showed an 8 per cent rise in suspensions for racist abuse, a 12 per cent increase for sexual misconduct and a 4 per cent rise for possession of an offensive weapon. Permanent exclusions for carrying an offensive weapon rose 9 per cent.
Discipline enforced where it matters most
These targeted increases indicate that headteachers are using the powers available to them to protect pupils from behaviours that undermine safety and decency. The rises come against a backdrop of renewed statutory guidance on suspensions and exclusions that took effect from 26 July 2026. Rather than signalling a failure of order, the pattern points to clearer boundaries being drawn around conduct that threatens the learning environment and the welfare of others.
Disparities persist. Pupils eligible for free school meals faced a suspension rate of 26.66 per 10,000 compared with 5.41 for those not eligible. Their permanent exclusion rate was 0.32 per 10,000 against 0.05. Pupils with SEN support recorded 28.86 suspensions per 10,000, while those with an education, health and care plan stood at 26.45. Boys were more than 1.5 times as likely to receive suspensions as girls and more than twice as likely to be permanently excluded. Year 9 pupils recorded the highest suspension rate at 30.01 per 10,000, with Year 9 and 10 sharing the peak exclusion rate of 0.35.
The suspension rate also rose in primary schools. Such patterns underline long-recognised vulnerabilities, yet the overall decline in total numbers suggests that firmer expectations, consistently applied, can begin to contain even entrenched problems. The data does not support the view that schools are simply expelling their way out of difficulty. Instead it shows selective, proportionate use of sanctions against the most damaging behaviours.