DISRUPTIVE behaviour, verbal abuse and assaults are causing thousands of schoolchildren to be removed from education, the Leader can reveal.

Newsquest’s Data Investigations Unit analysed permanent and fixed-period exclusions data from the Welsh Government surrounding state-maintained primary and secondary schools in North Wales, which revealed that figures are the highest since records began in 2012.

More than 4,760 children in primary and secondary schools across North Wales were handed permanent or fixed-period exclusions between September 2017 to August 2018 – compared to almost half of that number (2,271) in September 2012 to August 2013.

The data shows that 4,489 children were given fixed-term exclusions lasting five days or less – the highest in recent records. The highest number of pupils were excluded in Denbighshire schools with 1,481 – followed by 1,215 children in Flintshire and 818 in Wrexham.

For shorter fixed-term exclusions, the Welsh Government release cites ‘persistent disruptive behaviour’ as the main cause for pupils being removed from the classroom at 22.7 per cent across the country.

Figures show that a total of 226 pupils were given longer exclusions between September 2017 to August 2018 lasting five days or longer. The data reveals that 107 exclusions that lasted longer than five days were issued in Wrexham schools, followed by 52 in Flintshire and 27 in Denbighshire.

The Welsh Government say that ‘verbal abuse/threatening behaviour against an adult’ was the most common reason for these exclusions across the country at 21.7 per cent.

The data also shows that 48 children were given permanent exclusions – also the highest since the first release of figures in 2012/13. The highest number of pupils were excluded in Flintshire schools with 26 – followed by 10 children in Wrexham and five in Anglesey.

Commenting on the figures, a Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We are clear that exclusion should be a last resort and we are taking action to support schools to ensure this is the case. Where exclusion cannot be avoided, our guidance clearly sets out the support schools and local authorities must put in place for all children who have been excluded.”

Ms Chris Keates, acting general secretary of The Teachers’ Union (NASUWT), responded to figures by saying that for too long, too many teachers have suffered in silence.

She said: “The NASUWT has gathered evidence on the extent of the verbal and physical abuse being faced by teachers, some of whom report abuse occurring daily. Their physical and mental health is being affected by the failure of too many employers to support them in tackling these issues.

“Primary school teachers also face equally challenging and serious pupil indiscipline, but they are often discouraged from raising the issues and led to believe it will reflect negatively on them because of the age of pupils.