exclusions | Schools Week

DfE behaviour consultation seeks views on mobile phone bans

Schools will be asked for information about their behaviour strategies, their use of so-called “managed moves”, and how they deal with mobile phones as part of a six-week consultation launching today. This is an operational decision for schools, not something that can be micromanaged from Westminster The call for evidence was pledged by education secretary […]

‘Expulsions’ expelled: Critics persuade DfE to U-turn on exclusions lingo

The Department for Education is ditching its use of the “dated” word “expulsions” to describe permanent exclusions, after concerns were raised that it harked back to the era of corporal punishment. However, the government will continue to refer to fixed-term exclusions as “suspensions”, despite worries that the word “trivialises” the action. Ministers switched to using […]

Timpson two years on: Exclusions review chair wants action

The author of a landmark exclusions review has secured a crunch meeting with ministers to kick them into action over promised reforms. This week marks the two-year anniversary of Edward Timpson’s review, but the government has implemented just six of its 30 recommendations. No action has been taken on 12. What I want to really […]

Exclusion ‘must still be available’ to keep pupils and staff safe, say NEU leaders

The sanction of exclusion “must still be available” to keep victims of sexual abuse, violence and bullying safe, the leaders of the National Education Union have said. Joint general secretaries Dr Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney addressed the NEU’s virtual annual conference today. We believe that the sanction of exclusion must still be available if […]

Alternative provision in crisis: deficits, closed sites and restructures

A leading alternative provision setting is being forced to close a specialist site due to a creaking high-needs funding system exacerbated by Covid. Others facing six-figure deficits are considering restructures. The London East Alternative Provision (LEAP) will have to close the Tommy Flowers Vocational Centre in Whitechapel at the end of the year despite delivering […]

Children’s commissioner candidate grilled over exclusions at her academy trust

Dame Rachel de Souza has claimed her experience of “putting right” issues with off-rolling, exclusions and SEND support in her academy trust make her a good candidate to be the next children’s commissioner. de Souza, who is the government’s preferred candidate for the role, was questioned by the education committee this morning about what chair […]

DfE introduces intelligence gathering to monitor exclusions ‘in real time’

The government is switching to monitoring changes in the use of exclusions and other disciplinary measures “in real time”, a minister has said, amid concerns of an exclusions “spike”. Children’s minister Vicky Ford said the Department for Education was “introducing intelligence gathering and monitoring processes” to gather information on the use of exclusions as schools […]

DfE reveals new behaviour taskforce

The government has unveiled its new taskforce to help schools tackle unruly behaviour. The six advisers (see list below) will join the government’s behaviour tsar Tom Bennett in supporting 20 lead schools with ‘exemplary behaviour’ to help others tackle classroom disruption. Education secretary Gavin Williamson said the £10 million programme, announced in August, would “give […]

Zero-tolerance schools should be ‘unreservedly celebrated’, says MP

A teacher-turned-MP said schools with zero-tolerance behaviour policies should be “unreservedly celebrated” for ensuring staff aren’t “treated as punch bags”. In a Westminster Hall debate on exclusions yesterday, Jonathan Gullis, the Conservative MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, dismissed concerns schools were on a “exclusions spree”. If we do not have zero-tolerance policies or exclusions, where is […]