SIR – I was not surprised by your news story about the high number of expulsions and suspensions from Worcester schools.

As a county councillor, I often receive calls from worried parents whose children have been either expelled or suspended, often asking for help or advice.

They often have a common theme, our child was not listened to.

I do not wish to condone misbehaviour, but I do wonder why they feel the need to exclude and suspend so many children, which often disrupts their education and impacts on their life chances, often for what would appear to be petty or childish issues.

Perhaps schools could start to understand a little more and condemn a little less, perhaps they could start to help children who have behaviour issues, listen to them, assist them and maybe work with other agencies to improve their behaviour.

It would appear it is far too easy to expel or suspend children, it is often a zero tolerance attitude, which in reality means schools do not listen, do not understand or offer any help or assistance.

Schools should stop taking the easy route, should reduce the number of expulsions and suspensions, should start working to help children, not remove them.

I know misconduct can disrupt a whole class, I understand behaviour can be challenging, I know teaching is not an easy job.

However, it has never been easy, behaviour was always challenging, this increase in expulsions and suspensions just indicates that schools no longer wish to work to reduce the problem, they simply want to pass the buck to another agency or another school, it must stop.

They need to work a little harder to understand the issues which cause bad behaviour and help the child, or is that too much to ask?

RICHARD UDALL
County Councillor Worcester St John’s