School suspensions and exclusions in England have dropped for the first time since the pandemic, according to government figures released on Thursday.
There were 913,000 suspensions across state schools in 2024/25, a 4% decrease on the year before.
Permanent exclusions were also down 9%, at 9,900.
Suspension rates dropped in secondary and special schools, but have increased in primary schools.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the pandemic had left a “pernicious legacy”, but that teachers across the country were helping the next generation “turn a corner”.
“After years of spiralling suspensions and permanent exclusions, there are clear signs that the combined efforts of schools, parents and the government are working – and we are determined to keep driving forward that progress to fix the behaviour crisis we inherited,” she said.
Before the latest figures, rates of suspensions and exclusions in England’s schools had been rising since before the pandemic.
Last year, school suspensions reached their highest level in nearly 20 years and, despite Thursday’s drop, rates are still higher than they were in 2018/19.
Suspended pupils must stay out of school for a fixed period up to a maximum of 45 days in a school year, while those excluded are permanently removed from their school.
Nearly half of suspensions (46%) were for one day or less. But 94,400 pupils missed more than a week of school last year due to suspensions.
Schools can give up to three reasons for every suspension or exclusion. Persistent disruptive behaviour remains the most common reason why pupils are sent home, accounting for just over half (52%) of all reasons given for suspensions and 40% of exclusions in 2024/25.
The next two most common reasons for suspension were verbal abuse or threatening behaviour against an adult, followed by physical assault against a pupil.
Secondary school pupils account for the vast majority of all suspensions (85%).
But in primary schools, unlike secondary schools, suspension rates have risen. There were 112,545 suspensions in primary schools in 2024/25, up by 7,742 on the previous year.
