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The total number of pupils in the non fee-paying secondary schools suspended for the academic years 2005 to 2008 inclusive

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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, SPORT AND CULTURE BY THE CONNÉTABLE OF ST. LAWRENCE

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 3rd FEBRUARY 2009

Question

For the academic years 2005 to 2008 inclusive, would the Minister inform members -

  1. o f  the total number of pupils in the nonfee-payingsecondary schools who have been suspended;
  2. h o w manyofthose pupils have been suspended for a period of more than five days oran aggregate period of more than fifteen days in any school term;

Answer

(a) and (b)

By their very nature suspensions are temporary and are designed to underline that certain forms of behaviour are  unacceptable  in  schools,  and  also,  where  appropriate,  to  provide  breathing  space  so  that  support arrangements can be put in place either for successful reintegration or for transfer to alternative provision. The information requested in parts (a) and (b) of the question is set out in the table below -

 

Academic year

Total number of pupils in the non fee-paying secondary schools who have been suspended

Number of pupils who have been suspended for a period of more than five days

Number of pupils who have been suspended for an aggregate period of more than fifteen days in any school term

2005/2006

163

0

1

2006/2007

176

11

5

2007/2008

224

7

3

Question

(c) o f the current policy  for deciding upon suspension;

Answer

(c)  Under Article 36 of the Education (Jersey) Law the headteacher has the authority to suspend a pupil for a period of up to five days, or an aggregate period of up to 15 days, in any one school term. Suspension is used as a sanction according to a tariff reflecting the severity of incidents, and this is to ensure consistency across schools. The tariff for suspensions was developed in cooperation with Kathie Bull as a follow-up to the Bull Report published in 2003. Any suspensions exceeding 5 days, or totalling more than 15 days, in any term must be authorised by the Chief Officer of the Education, Sport and Culture Department.

Question

(d)   w h ether that policy  will be reviewed?

Answer

(d) I have already stated that in 2009 I will review the application of the suspensions policy and the guidance provided to schools. Furthermore, this will also be considered as part of the inclusion review to be conducted across schools in 2009.