SUSPENSIONS increased in Northumberland last year compared to any records since they began.

The schools suspended more pupils in spring term last year than any term since comparable records began in 2016-17, new figures show.

It comes as the number of pupils suspended in one term across England topped 200,000 for the first time, with The Children's Society urging local authorities to review how decisions are made and provide better help for children struggling with school.

The latest Department for Education figures show 1,618 pupils in Northumberland were suspended from school in the 2021-22 spring term, up from 1,347 across the same time period in 2018-19, before the coronavirus pandemic.

This was the highest figure of any term since comparable figures began at the start of the 2016-17 academic year.

Nationally, 201,000 pupils were suspended in the 2021-22 spring term, up from 184,000 in autumn and the highest on record.

Policy and impact manager at The Children's Charity, Iryna Pona, called on school and local authorities to review how suspension decisions are made, with a greater focus on helping children to address underlying issues.

She urged the Government to increase funding and roll out support, so children receive help needed before problems escalate.