South East Queensland’s worst behaved primary school students in 2023

A comprehensive analysis of hundreds of public primary school suspension and exclusion data has revealed SEQ’s worst behaved students. SEARCH THE FULL LIST

Analysis of new data has revealed the disciplinary rates for South East Queensland primary school.

More primary school principals are handing out the most serious disciplinary to students, an exclusive Courier-Mail analysis reveals.

The analysis of annual reports shows 155 exclusions were handed out to students at primary schools across South East Queensland.

The schools with the highest exclusion rates included Capalaba State School and Springfield Central State School with 10, while seven were handed out at Whites Hill State College at Camp Hill, and Chancellor State School at Sippy Downs.

Some of the schools in the list include prep to year 12 students.

It follows Queensland Education data that showed there were 1743 exclusions in 2023 – the highest since 2019 when 1674 were excluded. Of that, 657 were excluded for physical aggression.

Queensland Association of State School Principals president Pat Murphy said physical violence and bullying were among the main reasons for students suspensions.

“An exclusion in a lower year is an exceptional event, we don’t have many exclusions in primary school at all,” he said.

“An example of what would constitute a suspension would be continually high levels of physical violence towards other students or staff members.”

Mr Murphy said teachers and principals were committed to ensuring all students were safe at school.

“And if that requires that we suspend students, then we will do that,” he said.

“The Queensland public can be assured that principals will act in the best interests of the whole student population, and in some cases, to keep that student population safe.

“It does require us to suspend students and deliver an appropriate consequence, but also to ensure that there is sometimes a circuit breaker between that student and other students.

“Schools need to determine who is the perpetrator and deal with them.”

Mr Murphy said schools had behaviour management plans in place.

“It’s about ensuring that we’ve got high standards of behaviour embedded in these plans,” he said.

“In reducing the suspensions it’s just really making sure that teachers and school leaders are working with families and students around preventive interactions.”