Schools who permanently excluded pupils in the last year cost a local authority over £2.4m. Middlesbrough Council has to cover the costs every time a local school decides to kick out a pupil, which resulted in a big bill based on figures from the 2024/25 academic year.
At an average cost of £23,042 per child, 106 permanent exclusions in the most recently completed academic year brought a £2.442m bill. This is part of a wider £5.369m total spent on alternative provision, based on 233 kids in alternative educational arrangements as of 31 January, 2025.
The council explained that to calculate the average of £23,042 per excluded student, they use the number of children in alternative provision at the same point each year (always the end of January) and divide the total spend on alternative provision by this figure. This avoids fluctuations in capacity at different points during the year and allows to effectively measure actual growth year on year.
The figure of children excluded in 2024/25 does not take into account the number of children already accessing alternative provision who might have been excluded the previous year or years, hence why there are varying figures.
A permanent exclusion is the same as an expulsion – it means that a child is no longer allowed to attend a school. The local council must arrange full-time education from the sixth school day following the exclusion. Suspension on the other hand, is when a child is removed temporarily from school. They can only be removed for up to 45 school days in one school year, even if they’ve changed schools.
When it comes to the responsibilities of local councils, the government website says: “If the suspension is longer than five school days, the school must arrange suitable full-time education from the sixth school day, for example, at a pupil referral unit.”
When being questioned on figures at the full meeting of the council earlier in September, executive member for education and culture, Labour Cllr Philippa Storey was quizzed by fellow Labour Cllr Janet Thompson, who highlighted the 329 permanent exclusions in the area since 2022. Cllr Thompson said: “As you know, we have a duty as an authority, that children receive an education. Can the deputy mayor tell me how much it costs per child to educate and who are the providers?”
Cllr Storey said that it costs £23K per pupil when a child is permanently excluded from a school, per year, describing it as a “huge cost”, adding: “One of the reasons why it’s really important to try and keep children in school and mainstream school and to get away from permanent exclusions and suspensions is to actually bring that cost down for everybody.”
Cllr Storey explained that there are 23 alternative provision providers listed on the Tees Valley frame, seven of which are currently used by Middlesbrough. She highlighted that day six of permanent exclusion is when a child needs to have alternative provision put in place, with River Tees Multi Academy Trust acting as a pupil referral unit in-house at the council.
Cllr Thompson set out her view that if the financial onus was on the schools there would “probably” be less permanent exclusions and asked if the executive member agreed with her. In response, Cllr Storey said: “I think schools would be far more inclined to look at policies and how they operate.” She believed that the council needed more powers when it came to exclusions.
The matter was also discussed at the following week’s scrutiny meeting, with MICA Cllr Graham Wilson asking if the thousands of pounds goes to private providers. Cllr Storey said: “As a council we are not allowed to be an alternative provider, that’s the legislation, so yes.”
Fellow MICA Cllr Mick Saunders asked about the relationship between the council and academies. Cllr Storey spoke of a “strong” relationship with academies, but highlighted their autonomy. She added: “It is making sure that academies realise that when they exclude a child, it’s not just getting rid of a problem – it’s moving a problem.”
