Suspensions soar as fed-up NSW principals get tough on bullying, abuse and violence

Frustrated NSW principals have issued more than 41,000 suspensions against unruly students, in a crack down on violence, bullying and abuse in schools. See the exclusive figures.

Exclusive data shows NSW principals have taken a zero tolerance approach to violence by students.

School suspensions are soaring as fed-up principals crack down on discipline, kicking out more than 41,000 primary and high school students for bullying and violence, to vaping and swearing.

Departmental figures obtained exclusively by The Sunday Telegraph show the number of students given a suspension soared by 21 per cent last year, with 9288 primary school students among those sent home.

The increase has been attributed to principals embracing a tough new disciplinary policy, which has given schools greater powers to crack down on violent and disruptive students.

Introduced at the start of last year, the policy reintroduced “immediate suspensions” for serious behaviours – removing the requirement of a “caution” – and a clear list of grounds for sending a student home.

Male students were found to have been two and a half times more likely to be suspended than female students.

The introduction of the policy came as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese committed to establishing a new national standard for tackling bullying in schools as part of The Daily Telegraph’s Charlotte’s Wish campaign.”

The NSW Department of Education data shows just under six per cent of the 781,000 students enrolled across 2,200 government schools received a suspension last year, including 31,840 high school students.

Boys were also two and half times more likely to be suspended than girls, with students sent home for an average of 4.2 days.

More than 1100 students were suspended for bullying – including online – with just over 1000 sent home for sexual harassment and assault.

The figures show principals took a zero tolerance approach to violence with more than 18,900 students suspended for “seriously threatening or engaging in physically violent behaviour”.

Another 12,700 students were kicked out for “continued persistent disobedience and/or disruptive behaviour” while more than 5000 were sent packing over verbal abuse.

For the first time, students were also booted out for vaping with more than 2700 suspended for using the devices, e-cigarettes, tobacco or alcohol.

More than 460 students were suspended for “using an implement as a weapon” while 654 students were kicked out for engaging in “serious criminal behaviour” related to the school’s wellbeing.

With the policy making it easier to suspend students, the number of expulsions dropped with

just 107 students permanently kicked out of a school, down from an average of 300 in previous years.

The Minns government introduced the new disciplinary policy in response to desperate pleas of parents and teachers struggling with school bullies, persistently disruptive students and sometimes dangerous behaviours.

Poor discipline in schools has been blamed for contributing to teachers leaving the workforce while also a driver in parents seeking school transfers.

The data does not include suspension and expulsion figures for the independent school sector.

Acting Education Minister Courtney Houssos said teachers needed to have authority to be able to maintain order in their classrooms, noting that research showed students “learn best in settled classrooms”.

Courtney Houssos said students would benefit from peaceful classrooms. Photo: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

“We make no apologies for giving teachers and principals the authority to restore discipline to their classrooms,” she said.

“We have never been afraid of increased suspension rates.

“The right to an education comes with the responsibility to behave at school. Students who want to learn shouldn’t miss out because of those who misbehave.”

The data shows under six per cent of the total student population – 41,125 out of 781,000 – received a suspension in 2024.

The number of primary school students suspended represented two per cent of the primary school population while 10.5 per cent of high school students received a suspension.

The average number of days that students were suspended fell from 5.3 in 2023 to 4.2 in

2024.

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email [e-mail]

Originally published as Suspensions soar as fed-up NSW principals get tough on bullying, abuse and violence