Overview
- The BBC Shared Data Unit’s analysis, published on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, found a 68% rise in mentions of race-, gender identity-, sexuality- or disability-related reasons logged on suspensions and permanent exclusions between spring 2021-22 and spring 2024-25.
- Department for Education data show Bradford recorded 83,953 suspensions or permanent exclusions from Autumn 2020-21 to Spring 2024-25, with 1,164 recorded reasons citing racism and 304 linked to sexuality or gender identity.
- In the Cumberland Council area the data show 7,046 recorded reasons across the same period, of which 135 related to race, disability, sexuality or gender identity, with racism the largest single category.
- The published totals count up to three reasons per suspension or exclusion, so they are counts of recorded reasons rather than unique incidents, and most identity-linked reasons in Bradford occurred in secondary schools.
- Education bodies say the rise is driven by cuts to outreach and anti-bullying work, harmful online and political rhetoric, and gaps in teacher training, and they are calling for mandatory, consistent national recording and more preventative support to protect pupils and keep them in school.