Statistics

 In 2005 it was estimated that 11,500 young people were permanently excluded from secondary school.

 83% of those excluded are boys.

 African-Caribbean children are six times more likely to be excluded.

 At any one time, 170,000 16-18 year olds (over 9% of that age group) are not in education, training or employment.

 More than 150, 000 young people are out of school on fixed-term exclusions at any time.

 Children with special educational needs are six times more likely to be excluded.

 Children in care are 20 times more likely to be excluded.

 School exclusion rates tend to be higher in areas of social deprivation.

 One in 16 young people (approximately 40,000) leave school without any qualifications each year.

 17% of 16-25 year olds have literacy problems and 22% have numeracy problems.

 25% of boys are not reaching the expected standard in reading by age 11.

 Almost half of all boys are failing to reach the expected standard in writing by age 11.

 Less than two-thirds of boys reach the expected standard/level in English at age 16.

 At the end of March 2005, over 58,000 young people were living in care.

 70% of young people leaving care at 16+ have no qualifications.

 4% of those leaving care have five+ GCSEs at Grades A-C or equivalent, compared with the national average of nearly 50%.