Written question WQ95918

We do not currently collect data on the number of students found in possession of weapons in schools at a national level. I do, however, recognise the importance of collecting data about pupils being in possession of, or using, weapons in school, along with a range of other data on behaviour. We are in the process of amending the categories against which exclusions are recorded for data collection purposes to reintroduce the category of possession/use of a weapon. While not currently a category for data collection purposes, possession or use of a weapon remains a ground for exclusion.