New Zealand Student Engagement 2004 Publications

Publication Details

This report provides statistics and analysis on stand-downs and suspensions for the 2004 school year to 31 December 2004.

Author(s): Ministry of Education

Date Published: April 2005

Summary

This is the fifth annual report on the system of suspensions and stand-downs in New Zealand schools that was put in place in July 1999 and is the fifth report for a full school year, the first being for 2000.

The Ministry of Education's Statement of Intent 2004-2009, centred on its mission to `Raise Achievement and Reduce Disparity', incorporates three Vital Outcomes that are focused on increasing student engagement through Effective Teaching, Family and Community Engagement and Quality Providers. Increased student engagement in the learning process is undoubtedly linked to better learning outcomes for students. Statistics for stand-downs and suspensions are indicators of a form of behaviour management.

Stand-downs, introduced in 1999, are a short-term measure. Stand-downs allow schools, students and their families, time to evaluate the problems that have occurred and determine how to prevent reoccurrence. Students can then return to their schooling.

The use of stand-downs and suspensions is seen as a last resort when other options have not proved successful. Schools are encouraged to continue to use this form of behaviour management as infrequently as possible.

During 2004, while the number of stand-downs cases continued to rise in line with the increasing student population, the number of suspension cases reduced. Eight regions had an increase in the rate of stand-downs per 1,000 students, three retained the same and five regions showed a reduction (refer to table page 7). More significantly, seven regions reduced their suspension rates, five retained theirs, and four showed a minimal increase (refer to table page 11).

Male students continue to represent the majority of stand-down and suspension cases. Students aged between 13 - 15 years continue to be the most likely to be stood-down or suspended. Compared with the proportion of the school population they represent, Māori students have comparatively high stand-down and suspension rates but these rates are continuing to reduce.

Of note are the schools in the Marlborough and West Coast Regions who have made significant reductions in their stand-down and suspension rates.

The Suspension Reduction Initiative (SRI) is an initiative that has assisted many schools to increase engagement and reduce unacceptable student misbehaviour leading to disciplinary action and eventual stand-down or suspension. The SRI schools continue to reduce suspensions in most schools that are in the initiative indicating it is having a sustainable effect.

2004 Quick Facts
Stand-downs and Suspensions
  • At 1 July 2004 there were 726,891 students attending New Zealand's 2,700 state and state integrated schools. The primary level (Years 1-8) rolls totalled 463,206 and the secondary school rolls (Years 9-15) 263,685. Stand-down and suspension figures must be read in the context of the total school roll.
  • Less than 1% of the total school population was suspended from school. The majority of these students returned to schooling, and 61% returned to the school they were suspended from. Just 0.1% of the school population was expelled or excluded during the period 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004.
  • There were 20,447 stand-down cases during 2004, at a rate of 27 per 1,000 students. This is the same as the 2003 rate.
  • The most common reasons to stand-down students were continual disobedience (25%), physical assault on other students (25%) and verbal assault on staff (16%).
  • There were 4774 suspension cases in 2004, a rate of 6.56 per 1,000 students. This is lower than the 2003 rate of 6.75 per 1,000 students.
  • The most common reasons to suspend students were continual disobedience (26%, an increase of 65 cases from 2003), and drugs (26%, a decrease of 79 cases from 2003).
  • The peak age for stand-downs and suspensions, for both genders, remains at 14 years of age.
  • Students in the 13 to 15 year age group, comprised 24% of the whole school population, and 65% of stand-down cases (at a rate of 77 per 1,000 students). This age group represented 73% of suspension cases (at a rate of 20 per 1,000 students).
  • Students who are male, Māori or 14 years old continue to be over-represented in stand-down and suspension statistics compared to the general school population.
  • The stand-down rate of Māori males was 70 per 1,000 students and the suspension rate of Māori males was 19 per 1,000 students in 2004. Pasifika students, both male and female, showed comparatively high rates of stand-downs.
  • Seventy-five percent of all schools had no cases of suspension the same as in 2002 and 2003. There were no suspension cases in 39% of secondary and area schools and less than five suspensions in a further 17% of secondary and area schools. Forty one percent of intermediate schools had no suspensions and 83% of primary schools had no suspensions.
  • Areas with the highest reductions in cases of stand-downs were the West Coast, Marlborough and Southland regions. Areas with the highest increases were the Bay of Plenty, Wellington, Canterbury and Auckland regions.
  • The data indicates that both stand-downs and suspensions have reduced or have not increased where specific interventions are in place. Secondary schools participating in the Suspension Reduction Initiative, for example, have succeeded in reducing the suspension rate for Māori students from 76 per 1,000 in 2000, when the initiative began, to 39 per 1,000 in 2004.

Downloads

2004 Stand-down and Suspension Cases by Region File Type and Size

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