Shock over Ayrshire school kids behaviour

Sep 18 2009 by Lisa Boyle

HUNDREDS of kids have been booted out of South Ayrshire schools for bad behaviour.

Incidents include fire-raising, assault with weapons, and threats of sexual violence.

However, the shocking figures are an improvement on the previous year, and the number of incidents in primary schools are below the national average.

Last year, there were 669 exclusions from primary and secondary schools.

Children at Braehead Primary were the worst offenders in primary schools, with 15 exclusions.

And Marr College had 161 exclusions, more than double that of any other secondary school in South Ayrshire.

One pupil in the Troon school was suspended 13 times.

In Braehead and Kingcase primaries, one pupil was suspended four times throughout the year.

Most of the suspensions were due to verbal abuse of staff, general disobedience and assaulting fellow pupils.

But there were two exclusions for fire-raising at Ayr Academy and one at Carrick Academy.

At Marr College, there were two suspensions for threats of sexual violence against staff.

Carrick, Girvan, Marr and Queen Margaret academies all had to suspend pupils for assaulting staff and pupils with weapons.

And at Girvan, Kyle, Marr and Prestwick academies, pupils had to be excluded after being boozed up at school.

In a report to councillors this week, Margo Williamson, head of service, said: “Exclusion levels in South Ayrshire secondary schools have decreased significantly over the last three years.

“However, between 2005 and 2008, exclusion levels were above those of comparator authorities and national averages for all four years.

“Exclusion levels in primary schools have decreased over the last three years.

“Between 2005 and 2008, exclusion levels were below those of comparator authorities for three out of the four years and lower than the national average for all four years.”