The number of children in Lewisham being excluded from school for sexual misconduct has shot up.

Lewisham’s schools handed out 31 exclusions to children who had engaged in sexual misconduct in the 2016-17 academic year, according to data from the Department for Education.

This was an increase of 24 per cent from the previous year when 25 such incidences were recorded, and included four permanent exclusions.

Sexual misconduct includes sexual assault, abuse and harassment, but could also include behaviour that is not directed towards another pupil, such as lewd behaviour.

The rate at which sexual misconduct-related exclusions increased was higher than the rate of school population growth.

Councillor Chris Barnham, cabinet member for school performance, said the overall number of exclusions in  the borough was decreasing, with no children permanently excluded for sexual misconduct this year.

Students can either be permanently excluded from a school, or excluded for a fixed period of time.

“Exclusion from school is a serious sanction, usually used in response to serious misbehaviour,” he said.

“Looking at the overall picture on exclusions, for all reasons, I’m pleased that the number of pupils in our borough who have been permanently excluded this year has dropped by 30 per cent compared to 2017.

“This is positive news, and we are committed to working with schools to help reduce this figure even further.”

He said it was important issues were referred to the local multi-agency safeguarding hub and Lewisham police.

“Every child in our borough should be able to learn in a safe environment and not suffer in silence. We take concerns of sexual misconduct in our schools very seriously.”

The picture in Lewisham mirrors the national trend, with the number of exclusions jumping by nine per cent in 2016-17 to 2,340 cases.

In 2017-18 there have been 43 permanent exclusions from Lewisham secondary schools. This is 31.8 per cent less than in 2016-17 and 45 per cent less in 2015-16.