Today’s Friday society and education lesson looks at school behaviour, exclusion policy, and the formal vocabulary used when public data shows a social problem may be changing.
Title: School suspensions fall in England for the first time since Covid
Source: BBC News
Published: July 9, 2026
Original article: BBC News article link
BBC News reports that school suspensions and permanent exclusions in England fell in 2024/25, the first annual drop since the Covid pandemic. The government says teachers, parents and policy changes are beginning to help pupils “turn a corner,” although rates remain higher than before the pandemic.
The article also highlights uneven effects across the school system. Pupils with special educational needs, pupils eligible for free school meals, and boys are still more likely to be suspended or excluded, while charities and unions say schools need wider support for mental health, poverty and early intervention.
BBC News 報導，英格蘭學校的停學與永久開除人數在 2024/25 年下降，這是新冠疫情以來首次出現年度下降。政府表示，教師、家長與政策措施開始幫助學生「好轉」，但相關比率仍高於疫情前。
文章也指出，這個問題在教育體系中的影響並不平均。有特殊教育需求、符合免費校餐資格的學生，以及男學生，仍較容易遭到停學或開除；慈善團體與工會則表示，學校需要更多心理健康、貧困支援與早期介入資源。
temporary removals from school, work, or another organization, usually because of a rule or behaviour issue.
In article: “There were 913,000 suspensions across state schools in 2024/25, a 4% decrease on the year before.”
停學、暫時停職或停權；通常因違規或行為問題而被暫時排除在學校、工作或組織之外。
formal removals that keep someone out of a school, group, service, or place; in schools, this can mean permanent removal.
In article: “Permanent exclusions were also down 9%, at 9,900.”
排除、開除；正式將某人排除在學校、團體、服務或場所之外，在學校語境中可指永久開除。
continuing for a long time or happening repeatedly, especially despite efforts to stop it.
In article: “Persistent disruptive behaviour remains the most common reason why pupils are sent home, accounting for just over half (52%) of all reasons given for suspensions and 40% of exclusions in 2024/25.”
持續的、反覆發生的；即使有人試圖阻止，仍長時間存在或一再出現。
causing interruption, disorder, or difficulty in the normal running of a class, service, meeting, or system.
In article: “Persistent disruptive behaviour remains the most common reason why pupils are sent home, accounting for just over half (52%) of all reasons given for suspensions and 40% of exclusions in 2024/25.”
造成干擾的、破壞秩序的；使課堂、服務、會議或制度無法正常運作。
very harmful in a gradual or not immediately obvious way; often used in formal commentary about social damage.
In article: “Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the pandemic had left a ‘pernicious legacy’, but that teachers across the country were helping the next generation ‘turn a corner’.”
有害而難察覺的、惡性的；常用於正式評論，形容某種影響逐漸造成嚴重傷害。