Ethnicity not key factor in England school exclusions, study finds

Campaigners for race and equality say the research downplays the complex intersection of ethnicity and class that deprives children of equal opportunities. Photograph: Matthew Horwood/Alamy

Poverty and special educational needs, rather than ethnicity alone, are the key influences on individual children’s school exclusions and attainment in England, according to analysis.

The findings, by a multi-ethnic team of academics from Durham and Birmingham universities, challenge widely held views that children in some ethnic groups are disproportionately affected by exclusions and suspensions.