The majority of incidents involved primary school pupils
Nearly 3000 students were suspended from schools in Cambridgeshire for physically assaulting teachers and other pupils over the last five years, data has revealed.
A total of 2,990 pupils faced suspensions or exclusions from state-maintained schools in Cambridgeshire according to a Freedom of Information Act request. In the 2025/26 academic year there were 635 students suspended or excluded for physical assault against other students or teachers.
The majority of these were primary school students at 510, with 118 incidents in secondary schools and six in special educational needs, or SEND, schools. Cambridgeshire County Council said they do not hold data on whether these were cases of physical assault towards other students or towards teachers.
They also said they don’t record how many of these incidents were referred to the police or reported severe injuries needing medical attention. The number of suspensions or exclusions peaked at 797 during the 2024/25 academic year including 635 at primary schools, 152 at secondary schools and 11 at SEND schools.
It had been steadily increasing from 2021/22 when there were 291 suspensions and exclusions – 223 in primary schools, 68 at secondary schools and none in SEND schools.
Physical assault incidents – exclusions:
The council added the data is only what has been reported by the schools themselves and only as accurate as what they have reported to the council.
They said that moving forward all schools have agreed that the council’s early years and education system (EYES) will capture this data straight from the school.
A Cambridgeshire County Council spokesperson said: “Our teams work closely with school staff and families to keep pupils in school. It is always disappointing when pupils are excluded and it is always a last resort.
“Schools have to follow statutory guidelines and will always look at potential suspensions and exclusions on a case by case basis. We work closely with teaching staff and families to help manage challenging and difficult behaviour and keep pupils in school.”



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