Of 363,280 children suspended from school in 2008-09 for a fixed period, 92,150 were girls, representing 21.9 per cent compared with 21.6 the previous year. Among 6,550 pupils permanently excluded 1,440 were girls, or 25.3 per cent.
While these figures represent punishments for serious misbehaviour, teachers are complaining about other low-level misdemeanours. Whereas teachers reported pushing, spitting, kicking and hitting by boys, girls were more likely to resort to name-calling, isolating other girls from a group, spreading rumours or treating other children to snide comments or looks.
Talking in lessons, not paying attention, using mobile telephones in class and ignoring teachers requests or flouting school rules were almost as common among girls as with boys.
One teacher who took part in the survey reported: There is a lot of cyber-bullying, particularly via MSN and Facebook this is mainly girls.