PUPIL exclusion numbers in Argyll and Bute have halved in the last five years, a report has stated.
Information on the progress of the council’s education service has said that 52 pupils were excluded in the 2025/26 academic year, compared with 100 in 2020/21.
The number of incidents last year was 72, compared with 143 five years earlier, while the number of openings was 208 in 2025/26 against 469 in 2020/21.
A councillor sought clarity on what happens during exclusion incidents during a meeting of the council’s community services committee on Thursday, August 27.
Councillor Maurice Corry (Conservative, Lomond North) asked: “What is the path of the excluded pupil, and what additional cost is there that the council is liable for?
“Are these pupils tracked when excluded, and what are we doing with the parents in situations of exclusion and non-attendance, in primary and secondary schools?”
Council head of education Jennifer Crocket responded: “What we term exclusion in Scotland was previously known as short-term suspension, so exclusion is certainly not taken lightly.
“There is a presumption from Scottish education policy, so it would be a last resort and implemented for the most serious incidents.
“These temporary exclusions need to be for the shortest period possible. It can be from half a day to one to three days.
“In very rare circumstances, head teachers have to gain authorisation from myself or Wendy Brownlie (also head of education) if they are looking to exclude a child for longer than three days.
“When a child is subject to a temporary exclusion, the school remains in contact with parents and carers. We have a very clear managing exclusions policy and you may recall an update a couple of years ago outlining the steps we take.”
The report, circulated in advance of the meeting, said: “Exclusions have reduced significantly over the period shown, indicating improved practice in supporting children and young people to remain engaged in school and a strengthening focus on inclusion and early intervention.
“The number of pupils excluded fell from 100 in 2020/21 to 52 in 2025/26, while the number of exclusion incidents reduced from 143 to 72 over the same period.
“The number of exclusion openings remains substantially lower than in earlier sessions, suggesting that overall progress has been sustained. This reflects the positive impact of increasingly consistent approaches to relationships, wellbeing and targeted support.”
