New figures from the Department for Education (DfE) show school suspensions rose by 12% in the spring term of 2023/24, with 295,559 recorded, up from 263,904 the year before. Permanent exclusions also rose by 2%, from 3,039 to 3,107.

Persistent disruptive behaviour was the most common reason for both suspensions and exclusions, according to the DfE.