School exclusion rates fall in the Wokingham Borough
The number of secondary pupils permanently excluded from Wokingham Borough’s schools fell by almost a third last year (2006/07).
Only 27 Wokingham pupils were removed permanently from secondary and special schools in 2006/07 compared with 43 in 2005/06. And in the past two years, there has been a 36.5 per cent reduction in days lost by pupils through fixed-term exclusions and an 11.7 per cent decrease in the number of fixed-term exclusions in secondary schools.
A key driver in reducing exclusions in the Wokingham borough’s secondary schools is the development of the council’s behaviour strategy. It was introduced two years ago and supports secondary schools as they tackle exclusion rates including working with pupils to address their emotional, behaviour and social needs and working with school staff to develop their behavioural management skills so they can better deal with pupils whose behaviour is disruptive.
Examples of other work which has led to the reduction in permanent and fixed term exclusions includes a system which allows schools to ask for help from the council’s behavioural support team to look at alternatives to exclusion. Training has also been made available for both teaching and non-teaching staff in a number of key areas including positive behaviour management and running group work and transition programmes for year 6 and 7 pupils as they move from primary school to secondary schools.
Independent counselling support is also available to Wokingham pupils to help them should they have any issues or problems. Support is also given to parents to help them with their parenting skills and courses are available should they require them. The council has also set up a network for teachers and has helped schools consult with their staff on what support they need to tackle pupils’ disruptive behaviour.
Cllr Dr Norman Jorgensen, executive member for children’s services, said: “Permanent exclusions should be a last resort for troubled pupils. By finding out why a child is being disruptive, we can look at how to tackle the reasons why they are behaving in this way. We need to make sure that all pupils get the education they need.
“I am pleased with the council’s efforts to support schools and we now have a number of schemes in operation in the borough to tackle attendance and behaviour. The work we have carried out has had a significant impact this year, with the lowest rate of permanent exclusions in our secondary schools since becoming a unitary authority ten years ago. I hope we can continue to build on this in all our secondary and primary schools in future.”
A key priority for Wokingham secondary schools this year has been developing peer mentoring schemes. And last month (February) some 30 members of staff from across the borough’s secondary schools have taken part in a training day to offer advice on setting up, supporting or developing a peer mentoring scheme for their pupils.
Only one primary school pupil in the borough was permanently excluded last year. The council’s primary exclusion team has been working with primary schools over the past year to provide additional support to those pupils who pose a high risk for exclusion. And as a result, a number of pupils have attended special sessions to tackle their behavioural and complex needs.
Only 27 Wokingham pupils were removed permanently from secondary and special schools in 2006/07 compared with 43 in 2005/06. And in the past two years, there has been a 36.5 per cent reduction in days lost by pupils through fixed-term exclusions and an 11.7 per cent decrease in the number of fixed-term exclusions in secondary schools.
A key driver in reducing exclusions in the Wokingham borough’s secondary schools is the development of the council’s behaviour strategy. It was introduced two years ago and supports secondary schools as they tackle exclusion rates including working with pupils to address their emotional, behaviour and social needs and working with school staff to develop their behavioural management skills so they can better deal with pupils whose behaviour is disruptive.
Examples of other work which has led to the reduction in permanent and fixed term exclusions includes a system which allows schools to ask for help from the council’s behavioural support team to look at alternatives to exclusion. Training has also been made available for both teaching and non-teaching staff in a number of key areas including positive behaviour management and running group work and transition programmes for year 6 and 7 pupils as they move from primary school to secondary schools.
Independent counselling support is also available to Wokingham pupils to help them should they have any issues or problems. Support is also given to parents to help them with their parenting skills and courses are available should they require them. The council has also set up a network for teachers and has helped schools consult with their staff on what support they need to tackle pupils’ disruptive behaviour.
Cllr Dr Norman Jorgensen, executive member for children’s services, said: “Permanent exclusions should be a last resort for troubled pupils. By finding out why a child is being disruptive, we can look at how to tackle the reasons why they are behaving in this way. We need to make sure that all pupils get the education they need.
“I am pleased with the council’s efforts to support schools and we now have a number of schemes in operation in the borough to tackle attendance and behaviour. The work we have carried out has had a significant impact this year, with the lowest rate of permanent exclusions in our secondary schools since becoming a unitary authority ten years ago. I hope we can continue to build on this in all our secondary and primary schools in future.”
A key priority for Wokingham secondary schools this year has been developing peer mentoring schemes. And last month (February) some 30 members of staff from across the borough’s secondary schools have taken part in a training day to offer advice on setting up, supporting or developing a peer mentoring scheme for their pupils.
Only one primary school pupil in the borough was permanently excluded last year. The council’s primary exclusion team has been working with primary schools over the past year to provide additional support to those pupils who pose a high risk for exclusion. And as a result, a number of pupils have attended special sessions to tackle their behavioural and complex needs.
Wokingham Borough Council
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