There has been an increase in the number of expulsions and suspensions from second level schools.
Expulsions increased from 55 to 85 between 2020/21 and 2021/22.
Suspensions went up from over 5,200 to almost 8,900 in the same period.
However, they remain below pre-pandemic levels.
Pat McKenna, a former secondary school principal, says Covid has presented schools with a chance to re-think the use of sanctions against students:
"Students are presenting with more anxiety coming back. And I think schools are very conscious of that, that often that anxiety is expressed by maybe behaviour that goes against the Code of Behaviour. But schools are looking a little bit deeper now. And I think COVID has caused schools to reflect more on that, and to re-evaluate potentially the use of sanctions such as suspension".
