Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate his Department has made of the extent of off-rolling of pupils based on their projected exam results in (a) Coventry South, (b) Coventry, (c) West Midlands and (d) England; and if he will make a statement.

The law is clear that a pupil’s name can only be deleted from the admission register on the grounds prescribed in regulation 8 of the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006, as amended. Statutory guidance on exclusions is also clear that ‘informal’ or ‘unofficial’ exclusions are unlawful, regardless of whether they occur with the agreement of parents or carers. Any exclusion of a pupil, even for short periods of time, must be formally recorded.

The information requested is not held centrally. Local authorities have a duty to make arrangements to establish the identities of children of compulsory school age in their area who are not registered pupils at a school and are not receiving suitable education otherwise.

In March, the Government launched an externally-led review of exclusions practice, led by Edward Timpson CBE. The review will explore how head teachers use exclusion, and why pupils with particular characteristics are more likely to be excluded from school. It will also consider the differences in exclusion rates across primary and secondary schools in England.

The review will report at the beginning of next year. The full terms of reference for the review can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-exclusions-review-terms-of-reference.