More than 2,000 Dundee schoolchildren excluded since 2012
ByThe Courier Reporter
Pupils at the Heath Park Business and Enterprise College, Wolverhampton today. PRESS ASSOCIATION PHOTO. Thursday 15th January 2009. Heath Park has been named the most improved school in todays schools results. Picture credit David Jones/PA
More than 2,000 pupils have been excluded from Dundee schools since 2012.
Some of the most serious incidents have involved threats of sexual violence against staff and fellow pupils, indecent exposure, and attacks with weapons.
Figures obtained from Dundee City Council revealed 2,284 exclusions have been recorded since August 2012.
Violence has featured heavily with 444 exclusions for physical assault on fellow pupils and 448 for fighting.
Meanwhile, 1,134 exclusions came as a direct result of the verbal abuse of staff, while there were also 171 cases of physical abuse against staff.
Dundee teacher David Baxter, of the EIS union, said: “The safety of staff has to be paramount in order to make sure schools are safe places for them and the pupils they are there to help.”
Education convener Councillor Stewart Hunter said: “We have been trying to bring the numbers down and it is a reflection of the excellent work that has been done in schools by head teachers and staff that they have done so.
“However, there are occasions where exclusions are still necessary.
“The safety of our staff and other pupils is extremely important to us.”
More than 2,000 Dundee schoolchildren excluded since 2012
