Pupil Behaviour and Suspensions IOM Secondary Schools

Summary

The request sought detailed pupil suspension data for Isle of Man secondary schools from 2013 to 2019, including breakdowns by duration and reason. The Department of Education provided raw suspension day counts and duration statistics for all requested years but confirmed that suspension rates for 2017-2019 were not held.

Key Facts

• Suspension data was provided for five secondary schools: BHS, CRHS, QEII, RGS, and SNHS.
• The Department does not hold suspension rates for the years 2017, 2018, and 2019.
• Total suspension days for all secondary schools increased from 659 in 2013 to 1187 in 2017.
• Data for 2018 and 2019 was provided broken down by individual school.
• The response included specific counts for 1-day, 2-day, 3-day, and 4+ day suspensions.

Data Disclosed

• 659
• 1187
• 2013-2017
• 2018
• 2019
• 445
• 438
• 146.5
• 186
• 2020-12-04
• 2021-01-04

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held

Original Request

I seek additional information to that published in Section 2 of the April 2019 'Review into Pupils on the Isle of Man on the periphery of mainstream education'.  

Data Tables (14)

Full Response Text

Corporate Services Division Department of Education, Sport and Culture Hamilton House Peel Road, Douglas IM1 5EZ Telephone: (01624) 685808 Website: www.gov.im/dec Email: dec@foi.gov.im Our ref: 1590393 4 January 2021

Dear ###,

We write further to your request which was received on 4 December 2020 and which states:

"I seek additional information to that published in Section 2 of the April 2019 'Review into Pupils on the Isle of Man on the periphery of mainstream education' namely: For Graph 3 ('Overall Suspensions in the Isle of Man All Secondary’s printed on page 20) the actual numbers of suspension days for 2013-17 inclusive (the compression of the y axis means only an approximate number can be determined from the graphic) together with the numbers of suspension days for 2018 and 2019 (if held I request this data broken down by school in addition to the IOM figure); Similarly, for Graphs 4-7 also on page 20 the actual numbers of suspensions (1 day, 2- day, 3-day, 4+ days) for 2013-17 inclusive together with the same data for 2018 and 2019 (if held I request this data broken down by school in addition to the IOM figure); Chart 2 (page 21) highlights IOM suspension rates for 2014-16 inclusive (together with a comparison of regional English FTE for that period). I request the IOM suspension rates for 2017-2019 inclusive together with details of any comparative benchmarking undertaken in relation to the rates of FTE in England for those 3 years. By way of help and assistance I would appreciate confirmation of how the FTE is calculated for the FTE rates requested or already published in the Review (e.g. number of fixed term exclusions recorded across whole calendar year divided by the number of pupils on school roll at a given date x 100); For 2018 and 2019, IOM and individual secondary school data for suspensions by reason for suspension (as per Chart 3 page 22) together with the IOM and individual secondary school data for 2018 and 2019 regarding percentage of total suspensions by reason for suspension (as per Chart 4 page 23). For these I request the actual numbers/percentages per suspension 'offence'; I also seek the actual numbers and percentage figures used to compile Charts 3 and 4 (2013-17) as compression of the x axis makes precise interpretation difficult in some cases (e.g. what are the actual numbers of suspension for racist, sexist homophobic behaviour etc. in each of the years 2013-17 inclusive?);

The assumption is that the data recorded in the Review relates to calendar years as opposed to academic ones and that the data requested for other years is collated and held in the same manner. However, should the DESC compile such data on say a termly basis I am content to receive it in that, or any other format held, with an indication to the period to which the data relates." Our response to your request is as follows: Number of suspension days for 2013-17
IOM Overall Suspensions - Secondary Year 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Number of Suspension days 659 690.5 879.5 981.5 1187 Number of suspension days for 2018 and 2019
IOM Overall Suspensions - Secondary Year 2018 2019 BHS 445 438 CRHS 41 30 QEII 52 114.5 RGS 279.5 185 SNHS 198 184 The Isle of Man figure for the number of suspension days is the sum of the figures shown above. Number of 1 day suspensions for 2013-17 and 2018 - 19 1 Day Suspensions (Secondary) Year 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 BHS 38.5 55 67 60 58 CRHS 16 7 28 25.5 20.5 QEII 33.5 26.5 24 21 39 RGS 0 1 63 35.5 1 SNHS 24 13 113 55.5 100

1 Day Suspensions (Secondary) Year 2018 2019 BHS 79 95 CRHS 29 10 QEII 20 34.5 RGS 5.5 4 SNHS 51 40 Number of 2 day suspensions for 2013-17 and 2018-19 2 Day Suspensions (Secondary) Year 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 BHS 113.5 173 86 180 182 CRHS 25.5 15 34 17.5 24 QEII 6 13.5 22 75.5 27.5 RGS 72 86 100 84.5 126 SNHS 137.5 90.5 93 125 175 2 Day Suspensions (Secondary) Year 2018 2019 BHS 150 118 CRHS 12 10 QEII 24 28 RGS 136 96 SNHS 93 76

Number of 3 day suspensions for 2013-17 and 2018-19 3 Day Suspensions (Secondary) Year 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 BHS 27 84 36 57 50.5 CRHS 3 6 12 2.5 12 QEII 6 2.5 24 12 12 RGS 0 15 24 44 48 SNHS 30 12.5 35 29 60.5 3 Day Suspensions (Secondary) Year 2018 2019 BHS 65.5 39 CRHS 0 0 QEII 3 15 RGS 75 27 SNHS 26 32.5 Number of 4+ day suspensions for 2013-17 and 2018-19 4+ Day Suspensions (Secondary) Year 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 BHS 55 63 48 95 144 CRHS 26 8 31 14 10 QEII 21 15.5 13.5 28.5 22.5 RGS 12 0 10 11.5 29 SNHS 9.5 3.5 16 8 45.5

4+ Day Suspensions (Secondary) Year 2018 2019 BHS 146.5 186 CRHS 0 5 QEII 5 37 RGS 63 51 SNHS 28 35.5 The Isle of Man figure for the number of 1, 2, 3 and 4+ suspension days is the sum of the figures shown above. Isle of Man suspension rates for 2017-2019 While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested. This is because the Isle of Man suspension rates are only held up to 2016, as published. The comparable numbers for 2017-2019 were not held for the purpose of the ‘Review into Pupils, nor are they currently held by the Department. As a result of this information not being held by the Department no comparative benchmarking was undertaken. Where the data is not held in the format that has been requested section 8 (3) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 states; Nothing in this Act requires a public authority to – (a) Create or derive information from information that it holds (b) Undertake research into, or analysis of, information that it holds. Fixed Term Exclusion (FTE) calculation The calculation used to determine the fixed term exclusion figures was-: the number of fixed term exclusions in a given year divided by the number of pupils on roll multiplied by 100. Number of suspensions by reason for suspension 2018-19 While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested. This is because the number of suspensions by reason for suspension (as listed in the ‘Review into pupils on the Isle of Man on the periphery of mainstream education due to behaviour’) is only held up to 2017, as published. The comparable numbers for 2018-19 were not held for the purpose of the ‘Review into Pupils’, nor are they currently held by the Department.

Where the data is not held in the format that has been requested section 8 (3) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 states; Nothing in this Act requires a public authority to – (a) Create or derive information from information that it holds; (b) Undertake research into, or analysis of, information that it holds. Percentage of total suspensions by reasons for suspension 2018-19 While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested. This is because the percentage of total suspensions by reason for suspension (as listed in the ‘Review into pupils on the Isle of Man on the periphery of mainstream education due to behaviour’) is only held up to 2017, as published. The comparable percentages for 2018-19 were not held for the purpose of the ‘Review into Pupils’, nor are they currently held by the Department. Where the data is not held in the format that has been requested section 8 (3) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 states; Nothing in this Act requires a public authority to – (a) Create or derive information from information that it holds; (b) Undertake research into, or analysis of, information that it holds. Data used to compile Chart 3 – Suspensions by reason for suspension 2013- 2017 Year/Reason for Suspension 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Non-compliance 56 43 72 127 112 Physical assault against a pupil 74 56 60 95 108 Bringing the school into disrepute 3 8 7 6 4 Theft or attempted theft 8 2 12 6 7 Verbal abuse of a member of staff 76 72 75 82 107 Racist, sexist, homophobic, or other discriminatory language/behaviour 2 7 5 10 1 Persistent disruptive behaviour 45 30 57 55 95 Misuse of school or personal technology 17 6 2 11 20

Verbal abuse against pupil/s 3 4 1 3 7 Behaviour injurious or dangerous to self/others 40 45 59 100 100 Alcohol, Drug or Smoking associated incident/s 13 8 36 21 17 Bullying 2 5 4 10 10 Activating fire alarm 3 1 4 0 0 Inappropriate behaviour - sexual 2 6 2 3 2 Physical assault against a member of staff 3 2 2 0 3 Inappropriate behaviour 0 1 12 8 26 Data used to compile Chart 4 – Percentage of total suspensions by reason for suspension 2013-2017 Reason for Suspension Overall % of total suspensions in period Non-compliance 18.6% Physical assault against a pupil 17.8% Bringing the school into disrepute 1.3% Theft or attempted theft 1.6% Verbal abuse of a member of staff 18.7% Racist, sexist, homophobic, or other discriminatory language/behaviour 1.1% Persistent disruptive behaviour 12.8% Misuse of school or personal technology 2.5% Verbal abuse against pupil/s 0.8% Behaviour injurious or dangerous to self/others 15.6% Alcohol, Drug or Smoking associated incident/s 4.3% Bullying 1.4% Activating fire alarm 0.4%

Inappropriate behaviour - sexual 0.7% Physical assault against a member of staff 0.5% Inappropriate behaviour 2.1%

Please quote the reference number 1590393 in any future communications.

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Yours sincerely

Freedom of Information Coordinator