Exclusions: The challenge to schools

Since the discussion paper of last autumn and the likely legal effects emanating from the new Education Act, exclusion of pupils has moved from what Philip Garner describes as a ‘shadowland’ into the full light of day. Garner examines the dilemmas and challenges posed to schools, focusing on the discussion paper as the basis for his arguments. He identifies nine challenges for professionals and concludes that the present procedures appear to subvert, rather than support, the concept of an integrated approach to student difficulties. This issue is likely to continue to receive maximum publicity as schools come to grips with image and marketing.