St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic Academy in Merseyside has issued 202 suspensions in just three weeks following the introduction of stricter behaviour policies. The clampdown comes in response to a recent Ofsted inspection in April 2025, which rated the school as "Requires Improvement" across all areas and noted a rise in classroom disruptions.
Headteacher Clare McKenna said the school is “raising the bar” in expectations for pupil conduct. However, she acknowledged that some students have been "testing the boundaries" of the new rules. In the first week alone, 99 suspensions were issued. A school spokesperson confirmed that around 140 pupils had been affected, with some receiving more than one suspension—meaning nearly one in five students has been disciplined.
The school has faced some criticism from parents, but McKenna defended the move as necessary for improvement. “The vast majority of our young people should be applauded for how they have embraced these changes. The school is even calmer and more focused, and the feedback from students has been hugely positive,” she said.
The surge in suspensions at St Edmund Arrowsmith reflects a broader national trend. Recent data shows nearly one million suspensions were recorded in English schools in 2024—a 21% increase from the previous year. The figures include a rise in cases involving assaults on teachers, racist language, and repeated classroom disruptions.
St Edmund Arrowsmith, a Roman Catholic secondary school for students aged 11 to 16, opened in 2021 and currently has around 750 pupils. The school says the new disciplinary measures are part of a wider strategy to address issues raised in the Ofsted report and improve learning outcomes.