Across the same period, the total number of suspensions rose by almost 70% to more than 21,000 - with 247 issued to reception-age pupils.

But while the increases are staggering, they follow a national trend seen by many as a legacy of the Covid pandemic.

With children’s formative years interrupted by lockdowns, remote learning and social isolation, many have returned to school struggling to adapt to structured classroom environments.

And now, say experts, the consequences are unravelling - particularly among those hitting their teenage years.

‘We are in a teacher crisis’

Peter Read, a former head teacher and long-time education consultant who obtained the data on exclusions, says he believes the rise is being fuelled by a combination of post-pandemic fallout, mental health issues, underfunding and teacher shortages.

“Teachers have a far tougher job than they did before Covid,” he says. “But getting hold of teachers is very difficult now, as is finding head teachers.

“We are in a teacher crisis, which contributes to pupil behavioural issues.

“Special needs children are being forced down the route of having to go into mainstream schools.

“All these things contribute to poor behaviour and all these things contribute to the crisis in teaching.”

Mr Read’s concerns are reflected in the wider data, which shows suspensions in Kent have almost doubled over the past five years - from just over 11,100 in 2018/19 to more than 21,296 last year.

This refers to the number of sanctions issued, with individual pupils likely to have been punished multiple times.

The Kent figures mirror the national picture, with 46,300 suspensions recorded across England in the autumn term of 2023/24 alone, compared to 178,400 in the same period four years earlier.

Perhaps most stark, though, is the rising number of very young children being sanctioned.

In primary schools across Kent, suspensions have jumped from 1,902 to almost 3,500 a year.

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE FULL FIGURES

Brunswick House Primary in Maidstone, recorded 39 last year among children in its Reception classes - those aged just four and five.

That figure, which relates to a group of just 60 pupils, made it the highest in the district for its age group.

Head teacher Wendy Skinner says her school’s approach to behaviour is carefully considered, with suspensions used only when absolutely necessary.

“A suspension, where a pupil is temporarily removed from the school, is an essential behaviour management tool that, like all schools, we have set out within our behaviour policy,” she says.

“For the vast majority of pupils, suspensions and permanent exclusions are not necessary, but it is a tool we use at appropriate times as a last resort.

“We work collaboratively with the school community to encourage attendance and good behaviour, and we are committed to providing the very best we can for every child at Brunswick House Primary School.”

Elsewhere, Northdown Primary in Margate topped the table for overall primary suspensions, with 164 issued over the course of the academic year.

Secondaries bear the brunt

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is in secondary schools that the issue appears most severe.

At the John Wallis Church of England Academy in Ashford, which is a large all-through school catering to pupils from nursery to sixth form, more than 1,500 suspensions were issued last year.

At least 1,405 of these were to pupils in Year 7 or above - the highest number of any secondary in the county.

The school, which has about 1,700 pupils, was the first in Kent to start actively locking away children’s mobile phones in pouches.

The school says the initiative, launched last January, sparked a 40% drop in serious behaviour issues and saw them also win a Global Inclusion Award at the start of this year.

Principal Damian McBeath stands firmly behind the school’s behaviour policy, which was praised by Ofsted after its most recent inspection.

"We make no apologies for creating a safe, calm and purposeful learning environment for all of our community to thrive; we prioritise the wellbeing of all pupils and do not tolerate anti-social or disruptive behaviour,” he said.

“Our behaviour policy is clear and is followed with consistency and rigour. It gives our pupils and our staff the security of knowing that we put them first.

“Staff at our school thrive in a positive and supportive environment. Last year, our teacher turnover was below 10%, and more than twice the national average of our Academy’s staff reported being extremely satisfied at work - clear evidence of a workplace where people feel valued, fulfilled, and motivated to stay.

“Teachers, parents and carers, but mostly children, know that we have clear rules and systems that are followed with consistency and rigour. It has created a happier, calmer, and more purposeful learning environment for all.”

Second on the list for secondary suspensions was Oasis Academy on the Isle of Sheppey, which issued 1,271 before it closed last summer.

In its place are now two separate schools - EKC Sheppey Secondary in Sheerness, offering a more technical curriculum, and a new academic-focused school in Minster run by the Leigh Academies Trust (LAT).

Other high-ranking schools for suspensions included Goodwin Academy in Deal with 874, Homewood School in Ashford with 661, and Astor Secondary in Dover and Hugh Christie in Tonbridge, both with 474. The latter was taken over by LAT last year after it received an ‘Inadequate’ Ofsted rating.

LAT is also responsible for five secondary schools in Dartford, all of which made the list for highest suspensions in the district last year.

Commenting on the numbers, LAT - headed by CEO Simon Beamish - said all five academies are below national averages for suspensions and permanent exclusions in this current academic year, and as it educates a “significant” proportion of students in the region, it naturally means the Trust will feature prominently.

Mr Beamish adds that behaviour standards are consistently high.

“Leigh Academies Trust (LAT) takes a warm-strict, traditional approach to behaviour management, underpinned by strong systems and high expectations,” he says.

“This ensures that our academies provide calm, highly inclusive environments where teachers can teach and pupils can learn.

“The increase in suspensions and exclusions across Kent post-Covid reflects wider national trends. Many young people have faced challenges adjusting to school life after prolonged disruption.

“LAT remains committed to supporting all students while maintaining clear expectations. Our approach strikes the right balance between firm boundaries and inclusive support. We work closely with families and external agencies to intervene early, helping students succeed in a structured and respectful learning environment.”

Only three Kent schools permanently excluded more than five children in the last academic year - Longfield Academy near Dartford, with seven, and Sevenoaks’ Trinity School and St Gregory’s Catholic School in Tunbridge Wells, each with five.

Councils under pressure

While schools shoulder much of the responsibility, local authorities are also under pressure to support young people who are excluded.

Under Section 19 of the Education Act 1996, councils are required to provide suitable education for pupils who are unable to attend school due to exclusion or other significant reasons.

A spokesperson for Kent County Council acknowledged the recent rise in exclusions but says the authority’s rates remain below both the national and South East averages.

“Over the past few years, there has been a noticeable increase in suspensions and permanent exclusions, both nationally and in Kent,” they said.

“Despite the rise, the rate of suspensions in Kent remains more than 25% lower than the national rate and nearly a fifth lower than the South East rate.

“In Kent, when comparing all schools (primary, secondary and special) against the most recently published national data (academic year 2022/23), suspension and permanent exclusion levels remain well below national and South East levels, showing we are doing all we can to bear down on the issue.

“We will continue to do all we can to ensure all young people in Kent have access to the appropriate educational provisions they deserve.”

Medway exclusions also rise

The data provided to Mr Read by Medway Council – which oversees schools in the Towns separately from KCC – was not able to be broken down in the same way as for Kent.

However, it did show that 98 permanent exclusions were issued in the 2023/24 academic year, compared to 36 in the year before Covid.

Of the 2023/24 exclusions, Medway Council says just 29 of these were ultimately upheld.

Cllr Tracy Coombs, the authority’s portfolio holder for education, said: “Individual schools make their own decisions about exclusions and suspensions in line with their own behaviour policies.

“We do offer a range of support to schools, including training for staff and support for children with challenging behaviour.

“We are committed to supporting children in Medway to achieve their full potential.”