KNIGHTSWOOD Secondary had the highest number of exclusion incidents of any mainstream Glasgow school in 2020-21, new figures have revealed.

A council report says that there were 40 exclusion incidents at Knightswood in 2020-21 – 13 more than the next highest, St Thomas Aquinas Secondary in nearby Jordanhill, the Roman Catholic secondary for north-west Glasgow.

Drumchapel High School had only six exclusion incidents during the year.

The highest total number of exclusions in the city in 2020-21 was at Westmuir High in Carntyne, attended by young people with particular social, emotional and behavioural needs, which had 55 incidents during the last full academic year.

More than 30 primaries also had exclusions during the year – including five in north-west Glasgow.

Blairdardie Primary and St Paul's Primary in Whiteinch each had three, while there were two apiece at Antonine Primary and Camstradden Primary, both in Drumchapel, and at Knightswood Primary.

No other primary schools in the north-west of the city recorded any exclusion incidents during the year.

Councillor Chris Cunningham, who represents the Garscadden and Scotstounhill ward and is the city convener for education, skills and early years, said: “Our schools continue to focus on reducing exclusions as if children and young people are not in school they are not learning, and there’s been a 94 per cent drop in exclusions since 2007.

“School staff work really hard to understand why some pupils act in a particular way and will identify the correct supports to meet the individual needs of these children and young people to enable them to continue their learning.

“Short exclusions should only be used if there is no other option available and all other nurturing approaches explored to avoid time away from learning”

The number of children being removed from high schools has dropped dramatically since 2017-2018 from 642 to 312. 

In 2020-2021, a total of 256 secondary pupils were excluded compared to 61 primary children. Eighty per cent of pupils were excluded only once.

Exclusion incidents per 1,000 pupils at secondary schools in the city during 2020-21 were down 4.3 per cent on the previous 12 months, while at primary schools the figure fell 1.3 per cent.

The statistics presented on school exclusions were prepared for a meeting of the council's operational performance and delivery scrutiny committee on Wednesday, following a request from independent councillor Martin Bartos.

Councillor  Bartos had asked for further details on statistics regarding school exclusions and data regarding children excluded multiple times.

The council replied: “Ultimately alternative pathways and supports are put in place to best meet pupils needs on a case by case basis.”

Secondary school exclusion incidents in Glasgow 2020 to 2021

All Saints Secondary School – 6

Ardsgoil Glasgow Gaelic Secondary School – 1

Bannerman High School – 0 

Bellahouston Academy – 17

Castlemilk High School – 5

Cleveden Secondary School – 9

Drumchapel High School – 6

Eastbank Academy – 19

Govan High School – 15

Hillhead High School – 1

Hillpark Secondary School  -20 

Holyrood Secondary School – 1

Hyndland Secondary School – 4

John Paul Academy – 11

King’s Park Secondary School – 3

Knightswood Secondary School – 40

Lochend Community High School – 12

Lourdes Secondary School – 12

Notre Dame High School – 6

Rosshall Academy- 10

Shawlands Academy – 20

Smithycroft Secondary School – 9

Springburn Academy – 13

St Andrew’s Secondary School – 10

St Margaret Mary’s Secondary School – 4

St Mungo’s Academy- 18

St Paul’s High School – 2

St Roch’s Secondary School – 2

St Thomas Aquinas Secondary School – 27

Whitehill Secondary School – 9

Total - 312

Primary school exclusion incidents in Glasgow 2020 to 2021

Alexandra Parade Primary School – 5

Antonine Primary School – 2

Aultmore Park Primary School – 1

Balornock Primary School – 1

Blairdardie Primary School – 3

Camstradden Primary School – 2

Carmyle Primary School – 1

Elmvale Primary School  – 3

Golfhill Primary School – 2

Gowanbank Primary School – 1

John Paul II Primary School -1

Knightswood Primary School -2 

Mosspark Primary School – 5 

Our Lady Of Peace Primary School – 1

Pirie Park Primary School – 1

Riverbank Primary School – 1

Riverside Primary School – 1

Sandaig Primary School – 1

Sandwood Primary School – 2

St Catherine’s Primary School – 2

St Charles’ Primary School – 3

St Cuthbert’s Primary School – 1

St George’s Primary School – 1

St Maria Goretti Primary School – 3

St Martha’s Primary School – 3

St Monica’s (Milton) Primary School – 8

St Mungo’s Primary School – 1

St Paul’s (Shettleston) Primary School – 1

St Paul’s (Whiteinch) Primary School – 3

St Philomena’s Primary School – 4

St Timothy’s Primary School – 9

Thorntree Primary School – 1

Toryglen Primary School – 2

Total - 79 

Exclusion incidents during 2020 to 2021 at schools for children with additional support needs

Abercorn Secondary School – 7

Hollybrook Academy – 1

Westmuir High School – 55

Total - 63