Friday briefing: What’s behind the rapid rise of school suspensions in England?

In today's newsletter: Record numbers of pupils are being removed from class, with dire consequences for their attainment levels in later life. But is the pandemic solely to blame for this increase in bad behaviour?

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Good morning.

School suspensions have been steadily rising since 2015, but in the last few years there has been a particularly sharp increase in the suspension and exclusion rate in England and it is getting worse. Using the most recent data available, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has found that up to the Easter holidays 2024 there was a 20% rise in exclusions compared with the same period the previous year.

Grenfell Tower | Grenfell families have criticised the final inquiry report on the disaster for failing to fully address the disproportionate impact the tragedy had on diverse and marginalised communities. The damning report on the Grenfell Tower fire was published on Wednesday and found decades of failings by central government and corporations. It concluded that all 72 deaths in the 2017 blaze were avoidable.

Economy | The UK needs 1tn of fresh investment over the next decade if the government is to hit its economic growth targets, a City taskforce has said. The report said the challenge was to make the UK a competitive market in which to invest".

Welfare | The Labour government has confirmed there will be a binding vote on whether to scrap the winter fuel allowance for all but the poorest pensioners, as unease grows within the party about backing the plans.

France | Emmanuel Macron has appointed the EU's former Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, as prime minister of France, as he seeks to put an end to two months of political paralysis after a snap election. The French president said he had tasked Barnier with forming a unifying government in the service of the country".

Music | The Leeds indie band English Teacher have won the Mercury prize for their debut album, This Could Be Texas. Formed in 2020, the four-piece formed at Leeds Conservatoire and signed to Island records to release their first album.