Schools on the Isle of Wight excluded pupils for sexual misconduct on dozens of occasions over a ten-year period, figures reveal.

But charity Rape Crisis said the figures do not show the true scale of sexual abuse inside schools, following thousands of allegations by students across England.

Department for Education figures show Isle of Wight schools excluded students 41 times for sexual misconduct between 2009 and 2019 — two permanently and 39 temporarily.

Of these, the vast majority (40) occurred in state-funded secondary schools and one in a special school.

Four exclusions took place in 2018-19, which is the year with the latest available figures.

They were among 1,972 sexual misconduct exclusions — which include incidents of sexual abuse, sexual bullying and sexual harassment — across England that year.

Rape Crisis said the number of exclusions will not show the true scale of sexist bullying and sexual violence being perpetrated in schools, particularly against girls.

Katie Russell, national spokeswoman for the charity, added: "We’ve known for a number of years about the high prevalence and serious impacts of sexual violence and abuse in schools.

"The Women and Equalities Select Committee published a comprehensive report into this issue with clear recommendations back in 2016, some of which are yet to be implemented.

"No-one in the Government can claim not to have known about this situation and action clearly should have been taken before now.”

More than 14,000 testimonies have been posted on the Everyone’s Invited website, where pupils can anonymously share their experiences of abuse and assault.

The Government announced an immediate review into sexual abuse in schools in the wake of the allegations, while an NSPCC helpline and an Ofsted review were also launched.

Overall, Isle of Wight schools excluded pupils 1,169 times for a range of reasons in 2018-19 – 1,156 of which were fixed, and 13 permanent.