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<p>All children are entitled to a good education, regardless of their circumstances.
As the Commissioner’s report of March 2013 set out, the issues that underlie the disparity
seen in school exclusions are complex.</p><p> </p><p>The department collects and publishes
data on the use of exclusion, including by type of school, and by pupil characteristic.</p><p>
</p><p>The exclusions guidance ‘Exclusion from maintained schools, Academies and pupil
referral units in England’, attached, is clear that all schools should consider what
extra support might be needed to identify and address the needs of children from groups
with disproportionally high rates of exclusion, in order to reduce their risk of exclusion.</p><p>
</p><p>There are also safeguards in place to ensure that schools meet the duties described
in this guidance. Head teachers’ exclusion decisions can be reviewed by the school
governing body. If a parent believes that their child has been excluded from school
without regard to the guidance, they should complain through the official school complaint
procedure with the governing body. Ofsted assess a school’s use of exclusion, including
the rates, patterns and reasons for exclusion, as well as any differences between
groups of pupils as part of their inspection of schools.</p><p> </p><p>The Government
recently announced an externally led review of exclusions practice and implications
for pupil groups disproportionately represented in the national statistics. The review
will consider how schools use exclusion and how this impacts on all pupils, but particularly
why some groups of children are more likely to be excluded from school. The department
will publish full details of the review, including how views can be submitted, in
due course.</p>
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