Student Suspensions and Exclusions

Dear Imran Aslam
 
Thank you for your email below dated 16th June 2017. Please see the
response below. If you are unhappy  with the response, you may ask for it
to be reviewed by contacting Jane Earl, Chair of the Trust at; Green
Spring Academy Shoreditch, Gosset Street, London E2 6NW.
 
If you are unhappy with the academy’s decision, you have a right to refer
this matter to the Information Commissioner at:  
 
The Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
WILMSLOW
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
 
Telephone:   0303-123-1113 or 01625-545745
 
 
Freedom of Information request - Student Exclusions
 

 1. The number of students that have been suspended by the academy in the
last five academic years with a breakdown for each academic year.

 
Fixed term exclusions
The table below shows the number of students excluded (fixed term) over
the last five academic years with breakdown for each year.

Number of fixed term exclusions by year group

7 8 9 10 11
2012/13 1 3 1
2013/14 5 2 5
2014/15 2 1 2 6
2015/16 2 2 8 7
2016/17* 6 3 1 2

*date range – 1^st September 2016 to 28 June 2017.
 

 2. The number of students that have been expelled/permanently excluded by
the academy in the last five academic years with a breakdown for each
academic year.

 
Permanent exclusions
The table below shows the number of students excluded (permanent) over the
last five academic years with breakdown for each year.
 

Number of permanent exclusions by year group

7 8 9 10 11
2012/13          
2013/14       1  
2014/15 1        
2015/16          
2016/17         1

 
For each individual expulsion/suspension could you please disclose the
following:
 

 a. If the student was suspended or excluded permanently.  If suspended
the length of that suspension
 a. What year group the student was in when they were suspended or
excluded permanently

 d. The reason and nature of why they were suspended/excluded.

 
Length and reasons for exclusions
The table below shows the length and nature of each exclusion (fixed
term).
Reason for exclusion - This information has been withheld as it is exempt
from disclosure under section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act
2000, as it constitutes the personal data of the students concerned, and
disclosing it would contravene the principles of the Data Protection Act.
 
2012/13
 

Yr group Length of exclusion Reason for exclusion
8 1x 4 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above.
10 1x 2 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above.
10 1x 2 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above.
10 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above.
11 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above.

 
There were a total of 5 exclusions (total of 4 students).
 
2013/14
 

Yr group Length of exclusion Reason for exclusion
8 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above.
8 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above.
8 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above.
8 1x 3 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above.
8 1x 4 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above.
9 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above.
9 1x 2 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above.
10 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above.
10 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above.
10 1x 3 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above.
10 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above.
10 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above.
10 1x permanent exclusion Not disclosed as explained above.

 
There were a total of 13 exclusions (total of 11 students).
 
2014/15
 

Yr group Length of exclusion Reason for exclusion
7 1x permanent Not disclosed as explained above.
7 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above.
7 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above.
8 1x 3 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
9 1x 4 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
9 1x 2 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
10 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
10 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
10 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
10 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
10 1x 2 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
10 1x 3 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above

 
There were a total of 12 exclusions (total of 10 students).
 
2015/16
 

Yr group Length of exclusion Reason for exclusion
8 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
8 1x 2 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
9 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
9 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
10 1x 2 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
10 1x 4 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
10 1x 2 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
10 1x 1 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
10 1x 3 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
10 1x 1 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
10 1x 1 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
10 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
11 1x 3 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
11 1x 2 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
11 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
11 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
11 1x 3 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
11 1x 3 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
11 1x 1 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above

 
There were a total of 19 exclusions (total of 8 students).
 
2016/17
 

Yr group Length of exclusion Reason for exclusion
8 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
8 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
8 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
8 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
8 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
8 1x 3 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
9 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
9 1x 2 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
9 1x 3 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
10 1x 5 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
11 1x 4 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
11 1x 3 day exclusion Not disclosed as explained above
11 1x permanent Not disclosed as explained above

 
There were a total of 13 exclusions (total of 10 students).

 c. The number of students excluded permanently in their final year of
study and their destinations e.g. PRU

Year 11 permanent exclusions and destinations
During the last five years, only one pupil was permanently excluded in
year 11.  The student destination was ‘LBTH Pupil referral Unit’.

 e. For both suspensions and permanent exclusions, if the student(s)
appealed and if they were successful.

Appeals
No appeals were made to an Independent Review Panel.
Of the cases which were, by virtue of the circumstances of the exclusion,
considered automatically by the pupil behaviour committee of the Governing
Body/LAB, no exclusions were overturned.
Of the cases where, by virtue of the circumstances of the exclusion,
parents had the opportunity to make representations to the Governing
Body/LAB but there was no automatic consideration, no representations were
received. There were no appeals lodged for fixed term exclusions or
permanent exclusions over the requested dates.
 
 

 
Sent on behalf of
Green Spring Academy Shoreditch | Gosset Street | London, E2 6NW
Telephone: 020 7920 7900 | Fax: 020 7920 7999
Email: [1][email address]

Website: [2]www.gsacademyshoreditch.org.uk
Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter: @GSAShoreditch
 
Green Spring Academy Shoreditch is a trading name of the Green Spring
Education Trust, which is a charitable company limited by guarantee
registered in England and Wales (Company No.07856680). Company's
registered office: Green Spring Education Trust, Gosset Street, London, E2
6NW.
 
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show quoted sections

Dear Mr Aslam
 
Request for Information
 
I write further to your email of 17 July 2017.
 
I reviewed the decision to withhold some of the information sought by you
in your recent Freedom of Information request. Specifically, the
information withheld was “The reason and nature of why [the student was]
suspended/excluded”.
 
I have carefully considered your submission that the nature of the
exclusion does not identify the individual(s) involved.
 
In order to be personal data, the information concerned must identify a
living individual. On balance, I consider that disclosing the reasons for
the exclusions would render individual students identifiable, in that
their identity could reasonably easily be determined from the description
of the behaviour – either directly or by elimination. Therefore disclosing
the reasons for the exclusions would necessarily disclose the disciplinary
sanctions that had been applied to those identifiable students.
 
For completeness, I have considered whether disclosure would be fair to
the individuals concerned. I am conscious that the information is personal
to the individuals concerned, and I consider that they would have a
reasonable expectation that information about their disciplinary history
would not be disseminated. I am conscious also that the individuals
concerned are or were of school age,from Year 7 upwards. I understand that
there is undoubtedly some public interest in the effective operation of
arrangements for behaviour and discipline at the Academy. However in my
view this cannot outweigh the potential prejudice to the rights of the
individuals that would be caused by the risk of  disclosure of their
personal circumstances.
 
I therefore consider that disclosure would not be fair to the individuals
concerned. Furthermore, none of the conditions for disclosure under
Schedule 2 of the Data Protection Act 1998 appears to be satisfied.
 
Therefore on balance, I have reached the view that the information should
be withheld.
 
If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have a
right to appeal to the Information Commissioner at:
 
The Information Commissioner’s Office,
Wycliffe House,
Water Lane,
Wilmslow,
Cheshire,
SK9 5AF
 
Telephone: 0845 30 60 60
Website: [1]www.ico.gov.uk
 
There is no charge for making an appeal.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
 
Jane Earl
Chair of the Trust Board
Green Spring Education Trust

References

Visible links
1. http://www.ico.gov.uk/

Dear Mr Aslam
 
Request for Information
 
I write further to your email of 17 July 2017.
 
I reviewed the decision to withhold some of the information sought by you
in your recent Freedom of Information request. Specifically, the
information withheld was “The reason and nature of why [the student was]
suspended/excluded”.
 
I have carefully considered your submission that the nature of the
exclusion does not identify the individual(s) involved.
 
In order to be personal data, the information concerned must identify a
living individual. On balance, I consider that disclosing the reasons for
the exclusions would render individual students identifiable, in that
their identity could reasonably easily be determined from the description
of the behaviour – either directly or by elimination. Therefore disclosing
the reasons for the exclusions would necessarily disclose the disciplinary
sanctions that had been applied to those identifiable students.
 
For completeness, I have considered whether disclosure would be fair to
the individuals concerned. I am conscious that the information is personal
to the individuals concerned, and I consider that they would have a
reasonable expectation that information about their disciplinary history
would not be disseminated. I am conscious also that the individuals
concerned are or were of school age,from Year 7 upwards. I understand that
there is undoubtedly some public interest in the effective operation of
arrangements for behaviour and discipline at the Academy. However in my
view this cannot outweigh the potential prejudice to the rights of the
individuals that would be caused by the risk of  disclosure of their
personal circumstances.
 
I therefore consider that disclosure would not be fair to the individuals
concerned. Furthermore, none of the conditions for disclosure under
Schedule 2 of the Data Protection Act 1998 appears to be satisfied.
 
Therefore on balance, I have reached the view that the information should
be withheld.
 
If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have a
right to appeal to the Information Commissioner at:
 
The Information Commissioner’s Office,
Wycliffe House,
Water Lane,
Wilmslow,
Cheshire,
SK9 5AF
 
Telephone: 0845 30 60 60
Website: [1]www.ico.gov.uk
 
There is no charge for making an appeal.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
 
Jane Earl
Chair of the Trust Board
Green Spring Education Trust

References

Visible links
1. http://www.ico.gov.uk/

Dear Mr Aslam

Many thanks for letting me know.
Kind regards

Jane Earl

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