Hertfordshire primary school employ a no exclusions policy as school exclusions reach a record high

While many schools adopt a zero-tolerance approach to behaviour and discipline, Gospel Oak Primary and Nursery school in Hertfordshire have employed a no exclusions or suspensions policy.

School exclusions are at an all-time high, according to government figures.

More than 85,000 primary-aged children were excluded or suspended last year. Of those, 27,500 were aged six or under.

Headmaster of Gospel Oak, John Hayes, says:

"We do everything we possibly can to avoid excluding children from our school. This is on the understanding we can only do that if we have the right resources available to us to serve the children's needs effectively.

"When children's behaviour becomes difficult, it is always a form of communication. There is always something behind it that we have to try and tackle.

90% of those excluded from primary school have special educational needs and disabilities, according to children's early intervention charity, Chance UK.

John Hayes added,

"Over the last few years we've seen a significant increase in the number of children coming to schools with very complex special educational needs, with mental health concerns, whose families are struggling with the cost of living crisis.

"And for many of my colleagues I know, they find themselves unable to serve the needs of those children, unable to keep those children safe, and the rest of the class safe, because they simply don't have the resources, funding or expertise.

"I can see why at other schools suspensions and exclusions are used, as a last resort, but that is not something we resort to. For us, it is only used when vitally necessary."

Chance UK's research into exclusions shows more than 90% of children excluded at primary school do not pass GCSE English and maths.

Chance UK's Sophie Schmal says "something is going seriously wrong" for so many six-year-olds to be suspended and excluded from education.

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