Scotland's School Exclusions Fall.

The number of exclusions from Scottish schools has dropped by 11% in the past year, according to official statistics.

Exclusions from special schools rose but Schools Minister Maureen Watt said the overall figures proved efforts to improve discipline were working.

There had been more total exclusions in each of the past four years.

The main reasons cited by schools are persistent disobedience, verbal abuse against staff and behaviour deemed to be insolent or offensive.

Boys continue to account for most exclusion cases, at about 80%, while the vast majority of instances - more than 99% - are temporary, with an average length of three days.

The number of exclusions was down from 44,794 in 2006-07 to 39,717 last year.

There were 164 removals compared with 248 the year before - a third lower.

The number of individual pupils excluded also fell, by 9.7% overall from 22,777 to 20,572.

The rate of exclusions per 1,000 pupils was 15 in primary (down 4.5%), and 107 in secondary (down 11.2%) - but 187 in special schools (up 2.6%).

In special schools the number of individual pupils excluded went up from 503 to 532, a rise of 5.8%.

Ms Watt said she was "delighted" that exclusions overall had fallen, reflecting the work being done by schools and local authorities to improve behaviour and relationships, especially with regard to pupils at risk of becoming disengaged and excluded.

She added: "Schools and local authorities are using a wide range of provisions to reduce exclusions, with a focus on intervening early to stop problem situations before they develop into serious issues.

"Outwith the classroom further measures are in place to help manage the behaviour of young people.

"These include nurture groups, pupil support bases, college and vocational placements, and personal and social development programmes."

Ms Watt was speaking during a visit to Inshes Primary in Inverness, which she said had applied a "solution-oriented approach" which had resulted in none of its pupils being excluded.

"Quite rightly, it is for education authorities and individual schools to decide which provision to use to address the specific needs of pupils.

"For situations that cannot be resolved without exclusion, this remains a serious and last resort measure for headteachers to take," she said.

"However, the significant drop in exclusions is a clear indication that the range of approaches and provision available within and beyond school is working.

"I would encourage all schools to consider how they can do even more to meet the needs of pupils and to make sure all our young people are fully included, engaged and involved in school."

Tory children, schools and skills spokeswoman Liz Smith MSP there was concern among teachers' leaders that the statistics do not give the full story because some of the definitions of "exclusion" and "absence" are not sufficiently clear.

She added: "Whilst I warmly welcome the overall drop in the numbers of pupils excluded during the past school session, I remain deeply concerned about the large numbers of pupils who are being excluded - often several times - because of very seriously aggressive and threatening behaviour.

"This is rightly a major concern to parents and teachers and it needs to be dealt with as a matter of urgency as does the issue of what happens to these pupils on the days when they are excluded from school."

Labour voiced alarm at the 366 exclusions for assault involving a weapon, which it said was a 28% rise on the previous year.

Labour schools spokesman Ken Macintosh said: "These figures are chilling. Fiona Hyslop needs to get a grip on this as children who get involved with weapons at school can end up not just in trouble with the police and courts but also in casualty."

For the Liberal Democrats, education spokeswoman Margaret Smith said the overall figures should be taken "with a pinch of salt".

"I fear that they do not show the true scale of the problem," she said.

"Many suspensions and exclusions are logged as unauthorised absences or transfers. The schools minister's delight will be of little comfort to the teachers and pupils who have to cope with poor discipline in the classroom."

With thanks to BBC News bbc.co.uk/news for this news item.