Suspensions and expulsions in NSW government schools (2005-2022)

This dataset provides information on short suspensions, long suspensions and expulsions in NSW government schools.

Data Notes:

• The new suspension policy, Student Behaviour Policy, was implemented at the beginning of Term 4 2022, resulting in a change from suspension types and reasons to suspension grounds and descriptors. Consequently, the 2022 full year fact sheet can only provide data on suspensions in Terms 1 to 3 in 2022.

• From 2021, the Department will publish both semester 1 and full year factsheets. In previous years, only a full year factsheet was produced. Please note that semester 1 and full year data is not comparable, as students suspended in both semesters are only counted once in the full year publication.

• Data in 2020 and 2021 is not comparable to previous years due to the impact of Covid 19.

• ABS Statistical Area 4 (SA4) boundaries in NSW are combined into 11 groups for reporting of suspensions data from 2019. From 2013 to 2018, data was published by Family and Community Services districts.

• To protect individual students’ identities, values under 5 are represented as <5 and n/a is used in the “total” column.

• Refer to the individual publications for further information and policy context.

• The definition for students who were suspended and identified as receiving adjustments due to disability has been broadened from 2021 onwards. This means suspensions issued to students identified as receiving an adjustment due to disability are included if they are eligible for inclusion in the NCCD, including: a) students who are not reported to the Australian Government, and b) students who were identified as receiving adjustments due to disability at one school but were suspended at a different school. Fact sheets published prior to 2021 used the tightened definition of students who were suspended and identified as receiving adjustments due to disability, and therefore, figures in the fact sheets from 2021 onwards are not comparable with factsheets published prior to 2021.

Data Source:

• Learning and Wellbeing, NSW Department of Education.