DATA INSIGHT - Understanding exclusions in Scottish secondary schools

Background

Whilst permanent exclusions in Scotland have almost been eliminated, there remain knowledge gaps about the contexts, causes and consequences of temporary exclusions and how they impact school attainment and trajectories for young people post-exclusion and post-school. Our research attempts to fill some of these gaps, particularly in relation to quantifying the difference in the likelihood of being excluded according to your school and geographical area.  

Our research found that the variation in exclusions across secondary schools and council areas is sizable and statistically significant. These variations in exclusions show differences in socio-economic and demographic inequalities across schools and council areas, reflecting different practices or policies.  

Key Findings

These are the first phase of high-level findings, showing the factors affecting exclusion up to 2018/2019 in Scotland: 

• The likelihood of being excluded from schools can vary significantly and substantially by individual characteristics. 

• Young people at greatest risk of exclusion in secondary school are those who have also been excluded in primary school. 

• Young people who are care-experienced, and pupils who have been eligible for free school meals at least once, are also at an elevated risk of exclusion.  

• Peak exclusion period is the third year of secondary school (S3) approx. 4-5%, closely followed by S2. S5 is low (around 1%) and S6 is even lower (less than 1%). 

Data Insights

Please read the full Data Insight document, by clicking here.