This is the first time the government's figures for permanent exclusion and suspensions from school have included a breakdown by ethnicity.
The figures for 2007/8 show that the overall rate of permanent exclusion had dropped slightly from 0.12 per cent to 0.11 per cent of the total school population.
However, the rate was at 0.56 per cent among children from Gypsy/Roma communities and at a similar level, 0.53 per cent, for travellers of Irish heritage.
Black Caribbean pupils are three times more likely to be permanently excluded or suspended, the figures also revealed.
In addition, children from Traveller communities are three times more likely to be suspended and black Caribbean pupils are twice as likely to receive this type of fixed period of exclusion. Overall though the rate of suspensions was down, from 5.66 per cent in 2006/7 to 5.14 per cent in 2007/8.
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