Sexual misconduct, racist abuse and physical assaults on teachers are just three of the reasons why nearly 1,000 children were excluded from Camden’s schools last year.

More than 200 children were temporarily excluded for physically assaulting another pupil while 195 were suspended for threatening or verbally abusing an adult.

Eight were suspended for sexual misconduct, while 14 were temporarily excluded for racist abuse and 20 were handed short term exclusions relating to drugs or alcohol.

The exclusions data for the year 2012-2013 was obtained by the Ham&High under a Freedom of Information Act request.

Labour Cllr Angela Mason, cabinet member for children at Camden Council, said the number of exclusions was a tiny fraction when compared to the total number of pupils at Camden’s schools.

She said: “Camden has some of the best schools in the country and we fully support schools to take appropriate action in order to maintain a safe learning environment where pupils’ talents can continue to flourish.

“The number of fixed-term exclusions for 2012-2013, which has fallen from 2011-2012, are a minute number when compared to the total number of school pupils in Camden, which is 22,109.

“Each school has responsibility for ensuring that behaviour within their school is of an acceptable standard and to take appropriate action when pupils fail to meet these standards.”

Of 982 children excluded from Camden schools during the 2012-2013 academic year, only 21 were given permanent exclusions.

These were for physically assaulting another pupil, verbally abusing or threatening an adult, persistent disruptive behaviour and physically assaulting teachers.

The number of exclusions in Camden fell by 15 per cent last year. In Haringey, 699 pupils were excluded from school in the 2012-2013 academic year.

Reasons included using a weapon, drugs, theft, sexual misconduct and racist abuse. Twenty-eight were permanently excluded, down from 32 the previous year, while the number of fixed-term exclusions fell from 806 to 671.

In Barnet, 45 children were permanently excluded for reasons including drug-taking, drinking alcohol and physically assaulting pupils and teachers.

Barnet Council does not hold figures for children temporarily excluded from school.