THE SOUTHAMPTON schools with the highest exclusion rates have been revealed.

Newly-released figures from the Department for Education show there were a total of 1,092 permanent or temporary exclusions across the 73 state schools in Southampton in the 2020-21 academic year.

This is the equivalent of a rate of 3.3 exclusions for every 100 pupils – below the average of 4.3 across England.

However, of the 68 schools in the area with at least 100 pupils, this rate was highest at state-funded Weston Secondary School.

The school ordered two permanent exclusions and 95 temporary exclusions – this calculates to a rate of 17.8 per 100 pupils.

The schools with the highest rates

  1. Weston Secondary school - 17.8 exclusions per 100 pupils.
  2.  Hightown Primary School - 11.2 exclusions per 100 pupils
  3. Woodlands Community College – 9.5 exclusions per 100 pupils.
  4. Shirley Warren Primary School – 8.9 exclusions per 100 pupils
  5. Beechwood Junior School – 8.4 exclusions per 100 pupils.

 

‘We are strict and make no apologies for that’

In response to the figures, headteacher Jim Henderson of Woodlands Community College, said: “Woodlands Community College provides a calm, safe and secure environment for pupils in which to learn and thrive; this has been recognised by all Ofsted and Local Authority monitoring over the last 3 years, including our most recent Inspection.

“We are strict and make no apologies for that, however, we also have a  strong culture of support and care for all students.  I can assure you though, that our suspension rates have been in line with, or lower than, the Southampton average for the last 3 years.”

All five schools were approached by the Daily Echo but only Woodlands Community College provided a response.

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