12:49pm Friday 30th July 2010
THE number of exclusions from Cumbria's schools have dropped for a second successive year.
Permanent exclusions from the county’s local authority maintained secondary schools have reduced by 53% in two years and by 50% in primary schools.
Figures released by the Department for Education for local authority maintained schools showed that 18 permanent exclusions were made in the county’s secondary schools in 2009/2010 compared with 34 in 2007/08.
There were only two permanent exclusions in the county's primary schools in the 2008/09 academic year - a drop of 50% from 2007/08.
There were no exclusions, either permanent or fixed term, in special schools in the county in 2008/09 compared with 10 fixed term the year before.
Cumbria County Council said the new figures continue the county’s substantial year-on-year reductions in the number of exclusions in its schools. It means the county continues to be significantly below the national average on both fixed term and permanent exclusions.
Coun Duncan Fairbairn, Cumbria County Council's Cabinet member responsible for schools and learning, said: "Cumbria is continuing to perform well in this area. The impressive results are thanks to an innovative and effective approach involving good working arrangements between schools and the work of our reintegration officers and others."
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/trade_directory/