Written question asked by Lord Grayling (Conservative) on Monday, 1 March 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 3 March 2010. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Wednesday, 17 March 2010 on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Pupil Exclusions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils have been permanently excluded from schools in England and Wales for (a) alcohol-related incidents, (b) drug-related incidents and (c) carrying a knife or other weapon onto school premises in each of the last five years.

Answer: The available information on reasons for a permanent exclusion is published as follows:2003/04: Table 11"http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000582/index.shtml"2004/05: Table 11"http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000662/index.shtml"2005/06: Table 8"http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000733/index.shtml"2006/07: Table 9"http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000793/index.shtml"2007/08: Table 9"http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000860/index.shtml"Data on pupils permanently excluded for carrying a knife or other weapon onto school premises is not separately identified. There are categories for verbal abuse/threatening behaviour and physical assault.The latest data available is for 2007/08; information on exclusions for 2008/09 is expected to be published in the summer 2010.In 2005/06, data on reasons for a permanent exclusion were collected from secondary schools only.The Department does not hold the requested information for Wales. Information relating to Wales is available from the Welsh Assembly Government.

Secondary information