Black children in Wandsworth are three times more likely to be excluded than white children, a new report finds.

Government statistics released yesterday (March 25) indicate that the exclusion rate for Black children in the borough was triple the rate for white children in 2018/19.

Of children temporarily excluded that year 320 were black, compared with 207 white children.

Overall, the exclusion rate for Black children was 4.51, while the rate for white children is 1.47.

According to the study, the figure for mixed-race children was also high, standing at 3.34.

Rates for Asian and Chinese children excluded from school were relatively low, at 0.7 and 0 respectively.

Reasons for school exclusions included persistent disruptive behaviour, verbal abuse, theft and sexual misconduct.

Battersea MP, Marsha de Cordova, said:

“These are shocking statistics and are reflective of the deep-rooted structural inequalities that exist within education.

“It is vital that every child regardless of their background has a good, solid education.

“I hope these statistics will be a wake-up call to the Government and the Council to take robust action to address these educational inequalities.”

Commenting on the figures, a Wandsworth Council spokesperson referenced that 2018/19 exclusions in Wandsworth were lower than the Inner London and London average for both fixed term and permanent exclusions, with Wandsworth the second lowest overall rate of fixed term exclusions, the 3rd lowest for Black African and the lowest for White and Black Caribbean.

The Council spokesperson said: “Access to education is important for all children. Whilst Wandsworth has low rates for both fixed term and permanent exclusions compared to the London averages we are continuing to work with our schools to support them address any disproportionality across the education system when it comes to exclusions.”

You can find out more about exclusions by ethnicity and local authority here.