Chapter 10: Education - Equality and Human Rights Commission

Chapter 10: Education 313
a large drop from 2007/08 data.
• Mixed White/Black Caribbean pupils were 2.5 times more likely to be excluded
than average, with a permanent exclusion rate of 25 per 10,000 pupils. Pupils
from Other Black households were twice as likely to be permanently excluded,
with a rate of 20 per 10,000 pupils.
• The highest rates of permanent exclusions among ethnic minority groups were
found among Black Caribbean pupils (30 per 10,000 pupils), pupils from Irish
Traveller backgrounds (30 per 10,000 pupils) and Gypsy/Roma pupils (who had
the highest rate at 38 per 10,000 pupils). Taken together these rates are between
3-4 times the overall exclusion rate, although caution is needed in using these
estimates due to the possible under-recording of pupils from the Gypsy/Roma
and Irish Traveller groups, and the small population sizes.
In Scotland, 78% of permanent exclusions related to pupils from White ethnic
backgrounds, and 97% of exclusions were among children with English as their
first language (or where they were assessed as being fluent in English). Where data
were available in Wales, 93% of permanent exclusions involved pupils from White
ethnic backgrounds.
Box 10.2.1 Related issue: The educational experience of the most
disadvantaged groups
Some groups of children not only under-achieve in school, but are also among
the most likely to be permanently excluded.
Chapter 10
Irish Traveller and Gypsy/Roma children are the most likely to be
permanently excluded from school in England, and are the only ethnic groups
whose performance has deteriorated sharply in recent years, dropping from 42%
and 23% of pupils respectively getting 5 GCSEs A*-C in 2003, to just 16% and
14% in 2007. In England, qualitative research indicates that Gypsy and Traveller
children have the lowest attendance rate of any ethnic minority group, at around
75%. In Scotland, it has been estimated that only 20% of Gypsy and Traveller
children of secondary age regularly attend school and this percentage may be
even lower in more remote areas. 26 Even those who attend school experience
unequal access to an appropriate curriculum, teacher expectations and cultural
support. 27
26
Cemlyn, S. et al. 2009. Inequalities experienced by Gypsy and Traveller
communities: A review. Research Report 12. Manchester: Equality and Human
Rights Commission. Page 92.
27
Ofsted 2009. The Annual Report of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education,
Children’s Services and Skills, 2008/09. London: The Stationery Office.
Page 82.