120 expelled for teacher attacks

Scores of children in the West Midlands are being expelled from school each year for attacking their teachers, new figures show.

Around 120 were kicked out in the region in 2004/05 for physically assaulting an adult – and a whopping 2,170 suspended for the same offence.

In the Black Country, there were seven expulsions in Dudley, five each in Sandwell and Walsall, and less than three in Wolverhampton.

There were a staggering 127 pupils suspended for the violent offence in Walsall, 120 in Sandwell, 66 in Dudley and 55 in Wolverhampton.

In Staffordshire, some 20 children were expelled and 172 sent home for a "fixed period", while in Worcestershire there were fewer than three expulsions and 221 suspensions.

Some 15 pupils were thrown out of schools across Shropshire, where there were also 121 suspensions.

Across England, a massive 1,270 youngsters at maintained primary, secondary and special schools were expelled for physically assaulting staff, and 18,480 younsters suspended.

Richard Shepherd, Conservative MP for Aldridge-Brownhills, said: "I think a physical assault on a teacher is wholly unacceptable.

"This requires direct attention from the authorities concerned. Teachers give all our children the opportunity to make the best of their futures."

The data was disclosed by Schools Minister Jim Knight in a written parliamentary answer at the request of Theresa May, Tory shadow leader of the House of Commons.