Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what data her Department collects on (a) the use of suspension by schools in England and (b) compliance with the statutory guidance "Suspension and Permanent Exclusion from maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units in England, including pupil movement"; and what mechanisms are in place to monitor proportionality in the application of that guidance at school level.

The department monitors trends in suspensions regularly through our published statistical releases. The decision to exclude a pupil rightly lies with headteachers, and we are clear that exclusion may be necessary in the most serious cases to maintain safe, calm classrooms.

Compliance with the statutory suspension and permanent exclusion guidance is monitored through Ofsted inspection. Ofsted considers the use of exclusions as part of its evaluation of behaviour, including the rates, patterns and reasons for exclusion, and any differences between groups of pupils.

We are also taking forward measures to improve oversight and transparency, including enhanced monitoring of exclusions and pupil movement, and improved data‑sharing with Ofsted to support inspection.

We have published a guide on behaviour and exclusions for parents, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-exclusions-guide-for-parents/a-guide-for-parents-on-school-behaviour-and-exclusion. This explains their right to make representations to the governing board and request a review where they consider a suspension to be disproportionate or inconsistent with the guidance.