EXCLUSIVE by Joe Walker

More than 50 pupils have been expelled from schools across Canterbury, Whitstable, Herne Bay and Faversham.

Figures obtained by the Gazette and Faversham News under the Freedom of Information Act, show more than 1,400 exclusions – both fixed-term and permanent – were handed out across the area between January last year and this February.

Children as young as five have been hit by the punishments – dished out for offences ranging from fighting and violent behaviour to homophobic abuse and sexual harassment.

Kent County Council would not reveal the exact offences to protect pupils’ identities, but said other reasons could include possessing illegal drugs, arson, graffiti and carrying an offensive weapon.

Whitstable Community College topped the league table for the most fixed-term exclusions handed out with 235. As many as 131 pupils received the punishments during the time period, more than one for every school day.

Kent County Council spokesman Ian Tucker said: “The county council works with all schools to make sure that the behaviour of a small minority of pupils is not allowed to disrupt the learning of the majority of pupils.

“Kent schools have been steadily reducing the use of exclusion as a behaviour management strategy.

“Decisions about whether or not to exclude as a last resort are entirely in the hands of head teachers and schools’ governing bodies. Exclusions are usually between half a day and five days long, and there is the right of appeal. However, it is always best for children and young people to be in school wherever possible.

“Local authority advice and guidance to schools is designed to encourage schools to use a range of preventative plans and creative alternatives to exclusion.

“Funding has been given to local partnerships to make this happen. Many schools have successfully used managed moves of pupils between schools, and a variety of alternative provisions, both on and off-site.

“The success of these strategies can be judged by the steady decline in the number of pupils being excluded during the last three years.”

For the full breakdown of figures across the area, pick up a copy of this week's Gazette and Faversham News.