We have received the following information request –
1. The annual number of permanent pupil exclusions in schools for the last five academic years including 2016/17 for:
a. Knife carrying or possession
b. Drug possession or dealing
c. Firearm carrying or possession
2. The annual number of fixed-period pupil exclusions in schools for the last five academic years including 2016/17 for:
a. Knife carrying or possession
b. Drug possession or dealing
c. Firearm carrying or possession
3. The youngest age of a child excluded for the following reasons across this five year period:
a. Knife carrying or possession
b. Drug possession or dealing
c. Firearm carrying or possession
4. The number of non-permanent exclusions lasting more than a month for each of the last five academic years including 2017
Response:
In relation to requests 1, 2 and 3, Devon County Council does not hold specific information in relation to the number of exclusions for the three categories requested.
| Exclusion Reason | Description |
| Drug and alcohol related | Alcohol abuse Drug dealing Inappropriate use of prescribed drugs Possession of illegal drugs Smoking Substance abuse |
| Verbal abuse/threatening behaviour against adult | Aggressive behaviour Carrying an offensive weapon Homophobic abuse and harassment Swearing Threatened violence Verbal intimidation |
| Verbal abuse/threatening behaviour against pupil | Aggressive behaviour Carrying an offensive weapon Homophobic abuse and harassment Swearing Threatened violence Verbal intimidation |
In light of this it would be misleading and inappropriate to provide the numbers of exclusions that have been recorded under the three categories DCC uses as a response to the specific requests set out above. If you wish to reformulate your request to ask about the three categories DCC records exclusions under then we shall provide that data.
In relation to request number 4, the answer is NIL for every year, based on exclusions for 40 sessions or more (2 sessions a day for 5 days a week for 4 weeks or more).