Schools in England lack funds to tackle rise in bad behaviour since Covid, say heads

Schools are also struggling to deal with sustained increases in persistent pupil absence. Photograph: Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

School leaders have said they lack the resources to manage a rising tide of challenging behaviour since the Covid pandemic, after figures revealed a significant rise in the number of pupils being suspended and expelled in England.

The figures from the Department for Education (DfE) showed more pupils were being suspended repeatedly, and for longer periods, than before the pandemic struck in 2020 and schools were closed for most children over extended periods.