7 August 2012 Last updated at 11:22 ET

Kent teacher assault suspensions rise

KCC's education boss said the figures were a concern, but the increase was a blip

More than 700 children were suspended from schools in Kent and Medway in one year for assaults on teaching staff, an increase of 80 from the year before.

In the school year ending July 2011, a total of 744 students in primary, secondary and special schools were given fixed-term exclusions.

The numbers suspended for assaults on teachers the previous year were 624.

Kent County Council (KCC) said the Department of Education figures were concerning "but this was a blip".

KCC director of education, Patrick Leeson, added: "There are a large number of pupils having to be excluded on a fixed-term basis from school because of disruptive behaviour or verbal or physical abuse of other pupils or adults.

'Absolutely unacceptable'

"But at the same time the trend nationally and in Kent is down over several years."

In KCC schools, 517 pupils were suspended for assaults on teaching staff in 2009/2010, compared with 595 in 2010/2011.

In Medway, 107 were suspended in 2009/2010, compared with 149 in 2010/11.

Mr Leeson said it was "absolutely unacceptable" that pupils would be physically or verbally abusive towards teachers.

"Schools take a very strict stance on that and if it was a serious incident a pupil would be likely to be permanently excluded," he said.