There have been record numbers of suspensions in Merseyside state schools in the 2022/23 academic year.
A total of 19,375 suspensions were handed out in schools across the county, compared to 13,623 in 2021/22. This is more than double the 8,206 suspensions handed out in the 2018/19 academic year, the last full year before the Covid-19 pandemic. Dixons Fazakerley Academy had the worst suspension record of any state-funded secondary or primary school in Merseyside, relative to the number of pupils. There were a total of 1,350 suspensions at the school in 2022/23.
This equates to 159 suspensions for every 100 pupils. Only 19 other secondary or primary schools in England have higher rates. Dixons Croxteth Academy has the next highest rate, with 435 suspensions, or 127 for every 100 pupils.
Dixons Broadgreen Academy had more suspensions than any other school in our area, with 1,497. That’s 121 for every 100 pupils attending the school, making it the third highest rate in Merseyside. You can see how many suspensions and exclusions have taken place at your child’s school or schools in your area using our interactive table:
The situation in Merseyside reflects that of the country as a whole. A record 787,000 suspensions were handed out in schools across England in 2022/23, compared with 578,300 in 2021/22.
This is a 36% increase in just one year, and an 80% increase on 2018/19, the last full year before the Covid-19 pandemic, when there were 438,265 suspensions. The number of suspensions this year is 9.3 per 100 pupils. This is also a record high, up from 6.9 per 100 pupils in 2021/22 and 5.4 per 100 pupils in 2018/19.
