Under the Freedom of Information Act can you please tell me the following information for the past three academic years (2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18 to date):
1) The total number of schools that come under your provision and how many are special needs schools (including PRUs, SEN schools, SEMH schools, SLD/ASD schools and PMLD schools)?
Information is based on;
• pupils subject to exclusions (fixed term or permanent) for one of the following reasons
Physical assault against adult (violent behaviour)
Verbal abuse/threatening behaviour against adult (verbal intimidation, threatened violence)
• Devon LA Maintained Schools and Academies
The information below is Devon LA Maintained Schools, Free Schools and Academies (including Academy PRUs) only; it does not include independent schools or non-maintained special schools.
2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18
all schools (LA Maintained, Free & Academies) 365 368 370 370
Special schools (LA Maintained Special Schools) 10 10 10 10
2a) For schools in your area, how many reports of physical violence were made against school staff by pupils?
2b) How many of these reports involved violence against support staff (ie teaching assistants, pastoral support staff, learning mentors, special needs teaching assistants)?
3) Can you tell me how many reports of physical violence were made against school staff by pupils at special needs schools (including PRUs, SEN schools, SEMH schools, SLD/ASD schools and PMLD schools)?
4a) Including reports of physical violence, how many reports of any kind of harassment (including verbal abuse or threats) were made by school staff about pupils?
4b) What is the breakdown of these reports of harassment specifically regarding special needs schools in your area?
5) How many children were suspended across the area in each academic year for violent or threatening behaviour? How many of these children were pupils at special needs schools?
Q2) to Q4) we can provide the following information which relates to number of exclusions (fixed and permanent) for the specific reasons quoted below, but it does not equate to the number of schools reporting an exclusion . It does reflect the total number of exclusions reported;
Q2 & Q3) physical violence against school staff by pupils (we do not have any breakdown re: support staff)
2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 to date comments
all schools 406 362 427 75 Based on exclusion reason: physical assault against adult
special schools 21 24 25 2
Q4) including physical violence, any kind of harassment (including verbal abuse or threats)
2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 to date comments
all schools 1079 1058 995 189 Based on exclusion reasons: physical assault adult and verbal abuse adult
special schools 26 30 29 3
Q5) no of children suspended across the area for violent or threatening behaviour, based on number of pupils subject to a permanent or fixed term exclusion
2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 to date comments
all schools 606 600 602 143 Based on exclusion reasons: physical assault adult and verbal abuse adult
special schools 18 20 21 3