Devon Council Proposes £21,000 Fine for Each School Exclusion

A local authority intends to impose a £21,000 penalty on educational institutions for every student exclusion. The Conservative-led Devon County Council anticipates generating over £5m annually through this initiative, which forms part of its strategy to address a substantial financial deficit in the education sector. A report from the council indicates that the program’s objective is to “incentivise schools with high exclusion rates to explore every possible avenue to keep children and young people in school”. Liberal Democrat councillor Alan Connett stated that schools require a “final sanction” that does not involve the risk of a monetary charge. High-ranking council officials affirmed they were “listening to schools”, but maintained the proposal would tackle the issue of “too many young people” facing permanent exclusion. Michael Johnson, the head teacher of Chulmleigh College located in north Devon, expressed that he was “shocked” by these proposals. He said: “The only reason a school can permanently exclude a child is if their continued presence in the school is a risk to the health and safety of other pupils.” He added: “It’s not a punishment for a child to permanently exclude them – it’s a necessity for the whole school.” The county council projects that 247 children will be excluded during the 2024-25 academic year. Should this prediction materialize and the charge be implemented, the total fines could amount to just under £5.2m. Councillor Connett commented: “Head teachers need to be able to have a final sanction for children who are permanently disruptive.” He continued: “Fining schools £21,000 for excluding a child is not helping the school and is not helping the child.” Connett further asserted: “It’s another example of the chaos that’s currently going on at Devon County Council regarding all things to do with children.” The council has faced escalating financial difficulties within its children’s services department, accumulating a debt of £163m. This debt was intended to be resolved by a government bailout of £95m, which was agreed upon in March; however, it became apparent in November that the council had already exceeded its budget by £15m. These proposals are part of a consultation process concerning schools funding, scheduled to conclude on Tuesday. Andrew Leadbetter, the council cabinet member responsible for schools, remarked: “We are listening to schools, but the fact remains that there are too many young people being permanently excluded.” He added: “The number is growing, and we, our schools and partners all need to work together to reduce those numbers.” Leadbetter further explained: “Our proposal, which is similar to local agreements in other local authority areas, addresses the issue, seeking to ensure that all Devon children have the education and opportunities they deserve.” The Devon Education Forum is scheduled to convene in January, where school representatives will cast their votes on the proposal; however, active engagement with schools and other partners will also occur to investigate alternative solutions.