Plan to fine Devon schools £21k for each exclusion

Head teacher Michael Johnson said he was "shocked" by the plans

A council is planning to fine schools £21,000 for each child that is excluded.

Conservative-run Devon County Council believes it could raise more than £5m a year as part of its plan to deal with a massive overspend in education.

According to a council report, the scheme was designed to "incentivise schools with high exclusion rates to explore every possible avenue to keep children and young people in school".

Liberal Democrat councillor Alan Connett said schools needed a "final sanction" without the threat of a financial penalty. Senior council members said they were "listening to schools", but it would address "too many young people" being permanently excluded.

Michael Johnson, head teacher at Chulmleigh College in north Devon, said he was "shocked" by the proposals.

He said: "The only reason a school can permanently exclude a child is if their continued presence in the school is a risk to the health and safety of other pupils.

"It's not a punishment for a child to permanently exclude them - it's a necessity for the whole school."

Alan Connett, a Liberal Democrat councillor on Devon County Council, said schools needed to be able to exclude pupils without being fined

The county council is predicting 247 children will be excluded in the 2024-25 academic year.

If that occurred and the levy was introduced, fines could total just under £5.2m.

Connett said: "Head teachers need to be able to have a final sanction for children who are permanently disruptive.

"Fining schools £21,000 for excluding a child is not helping the school and is not helping the child.

"It's another example of the chaos that's currently going on at Devon County Council regarding all things to do with children."

The council has got into increasing financial problems in children's services and had racked up a debt of £163m.

That was supposed to be dealt with by a government bailout of £95m agreed in March but it emerged in November the council had already overspent by £15m.

The plans are part of a consultation on schools funding which is due to end on Tuesday.

Andrew Leadbetter, council cabinet member for schools, said: "We are listening to schools, but the fact remains that there are too many young people being permanently excluded.

"The number is growing, and we, our schools and partners all need to work together to reduce those numbers.

"Our proposal, which is similar to local agreements in other local authority areas, addresses the issue, seeking to ensure that all Devon children have the education and opportunities they deserve.

"The Devon Education Forum will meet in January and school representatives will vote on the proposal then, but we will also be actively engaging with schools and other partners to explore other solutions."