WA public school expulsions figures show record high as nearly 100 students suspended every day in 2024

Expulsion rates at WA public schools have climbed to a record high, more than doubling in the six years since tougher consequences were brought in to crack down on extreme classroom violence. Education Department figures — released after Opposition questions in Parliament — show the number of students kicked out of schools for severe aggression or other misdemeanours reached 175 last year. That was up from just 65 in 2019, when automatic exclusions for assaulting teachers first came into effect. Exclusions can be permanent or last for a set period. Another 11 students recommended for exclusion orders were let off the hook. The figures also revealed that 19,983 troublesome students — or nearly 100 every day — were suspended for up to 10 days for violence or other offences last year, down from 21,565 in 2023. Principals have told The West Australian the figures could indicate that incidents of student aggression were now far more extreme, triggering automatic exclusion instead of suspension. Some also voiced fears that perhaps fewer students were being suspended as poor behaviour became normalised. WA Secondary School Executives Association president Melissa Gillett said some of the drop-off in suspensions could be attributed to fewer students vaping on school grounds. “I am surprised the data shows such a decrease in student suspensions,” she said. “Secondary school leaders report quite the opposite to me, indicating that violence, abuse and threats of violence continue to increase in schools.” “I would certainly hope that it’s not due to staff becoming more accustomed to bad behaviour.” State School Teachers Union president Matt Jarman said members had told him they struggled to get support from the department to suspend students, so they looked for other solutions. “It doesn’t surprise me at all that exclusions are increasing,” he said. “We know from our members that violence in schools is something that is continuing to rise and the only outcome that our school leaders can go to is exclusions.” Shadow education minister Liam Staltari said the figures showed urgent action was required from the Cook Government to combat violence in schools. “This record high in exclusions tracks with the surge in school violence to record levels that we have seen under this Government,” he said. “Our teachers and students deserve to be safe in our schools.” Education Minister Sabine Winton insisted that keeping students and teachers safe was the Cook Government’s priority. “Violence is never acceptable, and that’s why we have empowered principals to automatically suspend or exclude students who engage in violent behaviours,” she said. “It’s important that violent students face consequences, however we also want to find ways to address the underlying behaviour and help those students develop behaviour management strategies. “That’s why our Government has significantly increased the number of Alternative Learning Settings to 12, putting the most violent students through a 10-week intensive program aimed at changing their behaviours and transitioning them back to the most appropriate education option.” Last year, 229 students attended an ALS program.