Increase in number of children given permanent exclusions

THE number of permanent exclusions in Bridgend county's schools has trebled since 2021-22, according to figures released by the local authority.

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Members at a council scrutiny session heard recent data showed “concerning trends” in pupil behaviour in Bridgend, which mirrored a wider situation in schools across Wales.

The report showed the number of permanent exclusions in Bridgend county borough had increased from nine in 2021-22 to 30 in 2023-24.

These were made up of seven primary school learners and 23 secondary school learners who were all permanently excluded.

There were also 1,589 fixed-term exclusions across the borough in 2023-24 for both primary and secondary schools, leading to a total of 2,953.5 days being lost.

Officers said the increase came because of a number of factors, most notably the Covid-19 pandemic which resulted in mental health challenges, resource constraints, and societal pressures.