WE can reveal the east London borough bucking the national trend for the increase in children being excluded from school.

According to official statistics released by the government, Waltham Forest recorded the lowest number of permanent exclusions across the whole of London.

Only six students in the borough’s primary, secondary and special schools were permanently excluded last year, out of London’s total of 890.

In England, there were 5,800 permanent exclusions last year, an increase of 33 per cent on the 4,360 recorded two years ago.

Elsewhere in east London, the neighbouring boroughs did not perform quite so well.

Redbridge recorded nearly three times as many permanent exclusions last year with 16, while Enfield recorded 11 times as many with a staggering 67.

That placed Enfield in second place behind Lewisham, which with 73 permanent exclusions topped London’s list.

The number of fixed term exclusions has also grown in England, increasing from 267,520 two years ago to 302,980 last year, a rise of 13 per cent.

Waltham Forest did not perform so well here, recording 1,720 fixed term exclusions last year, coming in third highest across the outer-London authorities and fifth overall in the capital.

This marked a 30 per cent rise on the year before, when the borough recorded 1,320 fixed term exclusions, coming in ninth highest across London.

Julian Lee, the executive head of Burnside Pupil Referral Unit (PRU), in Chingford, where secondary age schoolkids in Waltham Forest often go after being excluded, said these young people just need their “barriers to learning” removed.

His comments came after Burnside PRU received its second ‘good’ rating by Ofsted in three years.

He added: “Our staff are happy working with these engaging, bright, lively and interesting children and young people.

“We don’t see them as failures, not at all.”

Inspectors from Ofsted said it was the close relationship between this PRU and the council, which has helped keep the number of permanently excluded pupils in the borough so low.

Cabinet member for children and young people, cllr Grace Williams said the council fully supports the approach taken by the borough’s schools.

She added: “They focus on the importance of children learning in a consistent, stable environment and not becoming ‘lost’ from education as can happen following permanent exclusions.

“We believe exclusions of this nature should only ever be used as a last resort, and while fixed term exclusions are an alternative punishment, the council has begun working with schools to ensure their appropriate use.”