About 8,000 children are permanently excluded from school every year. A similar number are removed from the school roll unofficially.

Last year over 830,000 days of schooling were lost due to pupils being sent home for fixed periods. Every day missed is associated with a lower chance of achieving good GCSEs.

Exclusions disproportionally affect pupils from low-income families, children with a social worker, children from certain ethnic backgrounds and children with social, emotional and mental health needs.

The government’s exclusions guidance is not always followed correctly by schools and limited support exists for parents to challenge the process.

Once removed permanently from school, children have access to a limited curriculum and some receive only one hour of tuition per day.

The life outcomes of permanently excluded pupils are significantly worse than their peers. Half will be not in education, employment or training immediately after their GCSEs.