Exclusion task force is launched

A new task force has been set up to deal with the high numbers of pupils being excluded from schools in Bristol.

The team will include members of social services, the education department, schools and the Barnados charity.

The city has some of the highest rates of exclusion in the UK. It was also at the bottom of the GCSE league table in 2005 and 2006.

The new team was launched as Ofsted gave the council education department an improved two star rating.

The schools watchdog also classified the department as "adequate" compared to "inadequate" last year.

Cllr Helen Holland said: "This improved ranking for our children's services is excellent news and will have a direct impact on our overall performance score."