(UK) SPED students 5 times more likely to be expelled

July 19, 2018, Guardian: Sharp rise in pupil exclusions from English state schools Unions point to funding cuts after permanent exclusions rise by about 1,000 from 2016 to 2017 https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/jul/19/sharp-rise-in-pupil-exclusions-from-english-state-schools The rate of pupil exclusions from state schools in England rose sharply last year, according to official figures, with teaching unions laying some of the blame for the rise on austerity and funding cuts. The number of children permanently excluded from state primary, secondary and special schools in England increased by about 1,000 between 2016 and 2017, according to the Department for Education (DfE) figures. … Pupils with special educational needs accounted for just under half of all exclusions. Pupils with special needs were permanently excluded at a rate six times higher than pupils with no special needs. Pupils with an education, health and care plan or a statement of special education needs had the highest fixed-period exclusion rate at 16% in 2016-17 - more than five times higher than pupils with no special needs, at 3%.