NINETY children were permanently kicked out of Essex schools in 2013/14 for persistent disruptive behaviour, verbal abuse or attacking fellow pupils or adults.

The figure for schools in Essex – and the boroughs of Southend and Thurrock – was up from 70 in the previous school year and mirrors the picture across the country.

Nationally, boys are three times more likely to be permanently excluded than girls and a quarter of all permanent exclusions are given to pupils aged 14 and older.

Across the UK, the numbers of exclusions in schools reveal more than 3,000 pupils were temporarily excluded more than once in 2013/14, resulting in 6,140 exclusions in total.

The number of pupils in primary schools being temporarily excluded is on the rise with 17 in Essex in 2013/14, compared with eight in the previous year.

Ray Gooding, the Tory Essex county councillor responsible for schools, said a permanent exclusion was the last resort.

He said: “It’s on the rise for Essex, and it’s unfortunate.Iknow the schools do a lot of work before this, and it’s a last resort.

“In most cases the decision to exclude is made by the headteacher and governing body.

“However, we do haveateam of people who help and administrate and go through the process. We, as the local authority, then have to make sure the parents ensure children get into another school and are continuing with their education.”

Mr Gooding added: “There are two issues here–temporary and permanent exclusions.

“With temporary exclusions it is often a shock tactic and I think the average is just over two for each pupil concerned.

“But the percentage of children is pretty small when you look at the number of children in our schools.

“With permanent exclusion, often there are a number of reasons why.”

When pupils are thrown out, education authorities try to find new school places, called a “managed move”, which offers pupils a fresh start.

One mum, who did not want to be named, had her 14-year old son permanently excluded from a Southend school and moved to another.

She said: “I have to say the school did try to work with us to try to resolve the problems. He was abusive and difficult. He was the same at home.

“It got to the stage that they said they had to act and could do no more with him. It was at that point they suggested a managed move.

That was traumatic, but I understand why the school had to do it.

“Since then, the behaviour has continued but not in suchabig way.”

Mr Gooding said the biggest challenge came with children being excluded from special schools because staff couldn’t cope with their difficulties.

He added: “We need to make sure there is support for these children and the schools. We’ve got a process of trying to make sure in these circumstances people get put in a suitable school.”

Four pupil referral units across Essex work closely with pupils who are excluded and within schools there is one-on-one support available.