One per cent of five-and six-year-olds were permanently excluded from primary schools in England last year, Government figures published last week have revealed. The statistics show the number of children permanently excluded from primary schools in England rose by 19 per cent last year. In 2000-01 there were approximately 1,460 permanent exclusions from primary schools, up 19 per cent on the 1,226 permanent exclusions in the previous year. Overall, in primary, secondary and special schools, more than eight in ten (83 per cent) of permanent exclusions were boys.