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# Suffolk schools hand out record number of suspensions
- URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/suffolk-schools-hand-out-record-number-of-suspensions/
- Published: 2024-12-09T15:19:45.000Z
- Updated: 2026-03-16T15:28:10.000Z
- Description: Suffolk schools issued 4.8 suspensions per 100 pupils last autumn term, the highest level since records began in 2016-17.
- Author: Oliver Rouane-Williams
- Tags: News, Primary Education, Secondary Education, #article, #Import 2026-03-16 14:45

**Why it matters**: The sharp rise indicates growing challenges in local schools, with suspension rates nearly doubling compared to pre-pandemic levels.

**By the numbers**:

- 4.8 suspensions per 100 pupils in autumn 2023 – up from 3.3 per 100 the previous year
- The pre-pandemic rate was 2.5 per 100 in autumn 2019
- 60 pupils were permanently excluded

**The big picture**: The trend mirrors a national crisis, with England's suspension rate reaching 4.1 per 100 pupils – almost double pre-pandemic figures. Nationally, suspensions rose by two-fifths in a single year.

![Schoolboy with their hood up](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/03/1733757548-naughty-boy-with-hood-up-1.jpg)

Suffolk schools issued 4.8 suspensions per 100 pupils last autumn term Photo: Ole Schwander (Getty Images)

**What they're saying**: Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: "There is clearly a very serious problem facing schools with rising incidents of challenging behaviour and in particular persistent disruptive behaviour, which is the most common reason for suspensions and permanent exclusions."

**Between the lines**: Education experts point to Covid-19's lasting impact on children's behaviour, with many pupils still affected by disrupted education and isolation during the pandemic.

**What's being done**: The government has announced:

- £1bn investment in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
- Plans for mental health professionals in every school
- New regional improvement teams to address behaviour standards

**The bottom line:** While Suffolk schools grapple with unprecedented suspension rates, education leaders are calling for more resources and community support to address the underlying behavioural issues.

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