Published On: 8 February 2024Tags: , ,

Official figures have unveiled a concerning trend: the rate of exclusion among Black Caribbean girls has tripled in the past year.

The data, obtained from the Department for Education through Freedom of Information requests by Agenda Alliance, a coalition of over 120 charities and frontline organisations, has brought to light stark disparities in school outcomes among different ethnic groups.

In the academic year 2021-22, Black Caribbean girls were excluded from schools at double the rate of their white British counterparts. Additionally, girls from Traveller backgrounds also faced disproportionately higher exclusion rates. Among Gypsy schoolgirls, the exclusion rate was three times higher, while mixed white and Black Caribbean girls experienced double the exclusion rate of white British girls.

These disparities underscore a broader issue of systemic inequity within the education system, with discipline policies disproportionately impacting girls from minority ethnic backgrounds. The data highlights a concerning trend amidst a backdrop of rising exclusion rates nationwide, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

The release of these figures comes shortly after the government’s launch of a crackdown on unauthorised absences from school, often resulting in exclusions and suspensions. It suggests that these punitive measures may exacerbate existing disparities and fail to address underlying issues contributing to educational inequalities.