Assaults by pupils on teachers topped 90 a day in 2013

Bullying in schools is gradually falling, official government statistics show

There were more than 90 assaults on staff by pupils in England per school day last year, official figures show.

But the number of pupils either temporarily or permanently excluded from school has fallen consistently since 2010.

Figures released by the government show there were 17,680 physical assaults by pupils against teaching staff between 2012 and 2013 - or 93 per school day.

The number of bullying and racism incidents has fallen in the past year.

The total number for teacher assaults increased from 16,970 between 2011 and 2012.

But exclusions, both temporary and permanent, had fallen by 61,000 between 2012 and 2013 compared with 2009 and 2010, said the government.

'More power'

The Department for Education said measures introduced in 2012 by the government had led to the fall.

The reforms strengthened head teachers' powers over exclusions by replacing the independent appeal panel with a review panel.

Pupils claiming free school meals were four times more likely to receive a permanent exclusion, according to the statistics.

And boys were three times more likely to be excluded than girls.

School Reform Minister Nick Gibb said the government had given heads and teachers "more power than ever" to discipline pupils in school.

He said: "These figures give further confirmation that our reforms are starting to have a real impact on improving behaviour in schools and this is supported by teachers on the ground."