More than 1000 suspensions for Qld prep students in one year

Hundreds of Queensland preppies were disciplined for physical violence last year, while Year 5s were suspended for illicit substances. FULL LIST OF SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS

Hundreds of Queensland preppies were disciplined for physical violence against classmates and teachers last year, while children as young as Year 5 were suspended for illicit substances.

A Courier-Mail analysis of state government open data showed that of those incidents, more than 100 involved prep children from metropolitan state schools.

SCROLL DOWN FOR A FULL LIST OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Over the course of 2021, there were 1077 disciplinary absences handed out to prep students across Queensland, which was the lowest number since 2017.

The data further showed 137 children statewide in Years 5 and 6 were disciplined for misconduct involving an illicit substance, including three children who were excluded.

RELATED:Full list of Brisbane’s worst behaved high school students

RELATED:South East Qld’s worst behaved primary school students

Suspended Queensland Prep students aimed their violence at teachers and classmates, with some using objects in their attacks. Picture: Supplied.

Education Minister Grace Grace said she previously asked her department to focus on the trend of Student Disciplinary Absences (SDAs) being issued to the state’s youngest students.

“I’m pleased that those efforts have led to a decrease in the number of absences issued to Prep students,” she said.

“I am pleased to see [overall] suspension rates are trending at some of the lowest levels since 2015, based on my department’s preliminary data for 2022.”

Overall, South East Queensland’s worst behaved schools centred on Ipswich, Logan and Moreton Bay, based on data collected from state primary school annual reports.

Ipswich’s Bundamba State School dished out 420 short suspensions last year plus two long suspensions and two exclusions. The school had 481 enrolments last year.

“A vast majority of Queensland state school students never receive an SDA, and over 90 per cent of SDAs are for short suspensions of less than 10 days,” Ms Grace said.

“Schools work in partnership with parents and engage other agencies where necessary to address behaviours of concern and ensure students receive the support they need.

“Decisions by principals to issue SDAs are never taken lightly, and principals use a range of disciplinary measures to respond to inappropriate behaviour before resorting to absences.

“However, there is a legitimate community expectation that there will be consequences for poor student behaviour, particularly where it poses a danger to the health and safety of other students and staff.”

Opposition education spokesman Dr Christian Rowan said the data showed there was plenty more work to be done to lift behavioural standards in state primary schools.

“[Ms] Grace has been in the job since 2017 and since then WorkCover payouts for school staff have soared 86 per cent,” he said.

“The state government is failing to uphold its zero-tolerance approach towards violence in schools.

“With nearly 18,000 short term suspensions in South East Queensland last year, it’s clear the state government’s plan isn’t working.

“Illicit substances have no place in our schools and the responsibility also falls on the shoulders of parents to educate their children about the risks of illicit drug use.”

Queensland Teachers’ Union president Cresta Richardson said the majority of students from the state’s 1780 primary schools came to learn and positively engage in the system.

“As any reasonable person would understand, schools also cater for complex students with diverse and differing home lives,” Ms Richardson said.

“These challenges are managed respectfully and collaboratively between the school, parents and caregivers, and the Department of Education.”

Ms Richardson said the union continued to advocate for raising the profile, resources and respect for state school teachers amid the current workforce shortage.