More Girls, More Exclusions: The Silent Crisis in English Schools

More Children Being Permanently Excluded from School

More children are being permanently excluded from their school in England. In the 2023-24 autumn term, over 1,000 more pupils were excluded than in the autumn term the previous year. Rates of permanent exclusion have risen rapidly since the pandemic, with no sign of slowing down.

The Rise of Permanent Exclusions Among Girls

What is perhaps unexpected is that the rate of permanent exclusions is rising much faster among girls than boys. Girls are also more at risk of “hidden” or “grey” exclusions – when a pupil stops going to school but isn’t formally excluded. But partly because schools are seen as environments in which girls are more likely to thrive than boys, the issues girls face may be overlooked.

The Consequences of Exclusion

Research from Agenda Alliance, a charity, has found that 74% of girls in youth custody were previously permanently excluded, compared to 63% of boys. After permanent exclusion, girls (unlike boys) are more likely to suffer significant mental health issues.

Girls’ Experiences in School

In my research, I interviewed 12 girls at risk of permanent exclusion aged between 12 and 16 in two different secondary schools and one pupil referral unit. I found that they struggled with being heard. Girls in my study were unanimous that they wanted teachers to listen and take time for them, but felt this did not happen. They resorted to shouting before they could be shouted at.

Appearance and Behaviour

Girls felt that they received too much scrutiny over their appearance. Many girls in my study talked about facing sanctions over their uniform. They argued that teachers punished them for minor infringements, and that there was a double standard: teachers could wear two pairs of earrings, for instance, but they could not. One said that staff “don’t care about education it’s about earrings and that”.

The Fine Line Girls Walk

Girls told me that modifying their uniform was central to fitting in with peers and not being bullied. This results in girls treading a fine line between not standing out too much to other girls and not attracting the censure of staff. Girls reported being too visible in other ways, too. They told me that trips to the toilet were policed by staff standing outside. Girls also felt too visible in class, with significant anxiety expressed in my research about being picked on in class.

Conclusion

Striking the balance between being appropriately seen and heard is a challenge for many girls in school, even those who appear to manage it successfully. But for those who struggle, the current and widespread problems in schools make it less likely that teachers will “take more notice of how you behave, [because] there might be something behind it”. Without significant and widespread change in schools, more girls will either disappear from the system or be silenced by it.

FAQs

Q: Why are more girls being permanently excluded from school?
A: The rate of permanent exclusions is rising much faster among girls than boys, and girls are also more at risk of “hidden” or “grey” exclusions.

Q: What are the consequences of permanent exclusion for girls?
A: Research has found that girls who are permanently excluded are more likely to suffer significant mental health issues and are more likely to end up in youth custody.

Q: What are the most common issues faced by girls in school?
A: Girls in my research reported struggling with being heard, feeling undervalued, and facing excessive scrutiny over their appearance and behaviour.