ALCOHOL, sex and drugs are among the reasons children and teenagers are being excluded from classrooms.

An investigation into permanent and fixed-term exclusions in Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen’s primary and secondary schools has revealed growing numbers of suspensions being made – increasingly for issues surrounding drink and drug possession on school grounds.

Five teens were expelled from secondary schools across Blackburn with Darwen in 2018/19 for drug and alcohol use, with a further 27 facing fixed-period suspensions for the same issue.

In the five years previous to that only one permanent exclusion had been made for the same reason, in 2014/15. Fixed period exclusions have risen from six in 2015/16, to 14 the year after and 16 in 2017/2018.

And while the number of exclusions in Blackburn and Darwen schools have risen, schools in Lancashire have recorded a drop in permanent suspensions made since 2016/17.

Although schools have been largely closed since late March due to the coronavirus lockdown, the children’s commissioner for the country fears exclusions will rise when schools resume as pupils struggle to readjust to normal life.

Council bosses say they do recognise the increase in alcohol and drug-related suspensions, stating a ‘great deal’ of work is taking place to tackle what is known as the county lines issue, where vulnerable teenagers are targeted and groomed by organised crime groups to move drugs and cash.

Cllr Julie Gunn, executive member for children, young people and education, said: “Exclusion is very much a last resort for schools. We know that nationally the issue of drugs and alcohol in schools is an increasing problem with many complex reasons for this. Blackburn with Darwen Council works in partnership with our schools to help look at exclusion levels and the reasons behind them, and works with schools to support an excluded pupil to find the best way to continue their education in various other settings.”

A further three children were subjected to temporary exclusions for sexual misconduct.

In total, 16 students were permanently suspended from Blackburn with Darwen’s schools after being involved in misdemeanours ranging from physical and verbal assaults to damage and disruptive behaviour – almost double the number seen over the previous period.

A further 764 students and pupils faced fixed-term exclusions, with fights between pupils being listed as the primary reason for measures being put in place.

Other reasons for suspensions include theft on school grounds, racial abuse, and physical and verbal abuse towards staff.

Cllr Gunn added: “We have recently implemented the Child Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHs) trailblazer. We have a team who have a variety of clinical expertise working with school leads throughout the borough to provide bespoke support for our children and young people.

“In addition to this, the Pause 4 Thought scheme and childhood resilience programme are being introduced to schools to provide meaningful interventions to help work with children and young people who may need additional support.”

The figures for Lancashire’s schools - including Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale, Ribble Valley and Hyndburn - show the main reason for exclusion was for persistent disruptive behaviour (88) followed by physical altercations between pupils (45) and drugs and alcohol (41). The total number of permanent exclusions across the county has largely remained the same over the last two years, but a slight decrease has been recorded since 2016/17 when 354 pupils were suspended, compared to 324 in 2018/19.

However the number of fixed-term exclusions has risen, with 2,053 pupils suspended for disruptive behaviour, 1,408 for physical altercations amongst pupils and 303 for drug and alcohol-related issues. And 29 were suspended for sexual misconduct.

Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner for England, fears there will be further exclusions as pupils struggle to adjust to being back at school after the coronavirus lockdown.

“Excluding a child makes them more vulnerable to exploitation by criminal gangs and less likely to leave education with the qualifications they need to succeed,” she said.

A DfE spokesman said permanent exclusion should be a last resort. He added: “We know some pupils will return to school in September having experienced loss or adversity due to the coronavirus pandemic, which is why we have provided guidance for school leaders on how to re-engage these pupils.”