Almost a quarter of all London primary school students expelled in 2009-10 were from Lambeth, according to new Government data.

A total of 19 children were permanently excluded from local maintained primary schools, out of a London total of 80.

The statistics were released by the Department of Education on Thursday, July 28.

The borough also had the capital’s highest number of students banned from primary school for a fixed period, 401.

A total of 45 students were expelled from Lambeth state secondary schools during 2009-10, while 1,328 were excluded for a fixed period, representing 14 per cent of the school population.

Across Lambeth’s maintained primary, state-funded secondary and special schools, 14 students were expelled for physical assault against a student, 10 for physical assault against an adult, while 15 were expelled for persistent disruptive behaviour.