The Conservatives plan to implement a legal “presumption” for permanently excluding students who bring knives to school or who assault their peers or teachers, as articulated by the shadow education secretary.
Laura Trott asserted that she would ensure alternative provisions are “independent” from local councils, mandate registration for all alternative provision, and introduce automatic fines for pupils who fail to attend their placements.
During her address at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Trott stated that the party’s “blueprint for enhancing discipline” would build upon the efforts of the last Conservative administration.
‘One knife and you’re out’
Trott addressed attendees by saying that the plan “begins with acknowledging the necessity for permanent exclusions.” She emphasized the importance of establishing clear boundaries for excluding students who exhibit extreme violence or who carry a knife.
“This isn’t about giving up on those children. Quite the contrary. It’s essential for children to understand that actions have consequences. That’s how life operates,” she remarked.
According to Trott, “under the Conservatives, our stance is straightforward: one knife and you’re expelled. If you attack a teacher, you’re out. If you commit a sexual assault, you’re out. If a student has been expelled from one or two mainstream schools, it’s evident that mainstream education isn’t suitable for them.”
Trott continued, “If students bring knives into classrooms or exhibit violent behavior, they don’t belong there. And under Conservative leadership, they won’t be allowed in.”
The existing guidelines regarding exclusions state that the government “trusts headteachers to exercise their professional judgment based on the specific circumstances of each case when deciding whether to expel a student.”
The guidance outlines “instances that may justify a suspension or permanent exclusion,” including assaults on staff and students and the “use or threat of using a weapon or any prohibited item defined in a school’s behavior policy.”
Heads under ‘pressure not to exclude’
In a discussion with Schools Week about her proposals at a conference fringe event, Trott indicated that the policy would establish a “presumption in favor of” permanent exclusions under those circumstances, aimed at “empowering headteachers.”
She shared that she frequently hears about headteachers facing “pressure not to exclude,” often from local authorities.
“The intention behind this policy is to establish a norm, a framework. Of course, exceptional situations will exist, but the goal is to alter the current landscape,” she said.
The Conservatives have proposed an amendment to the government’s schools bill to implement such a presumption, Trott mentioned.
This amendment would mandate that students expelled for the aforementioned reasons be “transferred to a more suitable environment for their challenging behavior, such as a [student] referral unit or comparable alternative provision.”
More AP places needed
In her speech, Trott praised “specialist alternative provision,” applauding staff for their “extraordinary dedication to transforming children’s lives.” She stressed that when executed correctly, it offers a quality of education tailored to individual needs.
However, she pointed out the urgent need for “more spaces like this,” noting that the lack of high-quality alternative provision results in disruptive students remaining in mainstream classrooms for excessive periods.
“Our blueprint aims to create additional high-quality placements in alternative provision, minimizing disruption for those who are affected by it, and delivering specialized support for those who require it,” she stated.
The party was also queried about the funding necessary to establish more alternative provision spaces.
‘Every academy chain partnering with AP’
Trott remarked that “every local area should have access to specialist provisions,” adding that “girls should be provided separate accommodations from violent young males.”
She also mentioned, “We should elevate standards across every academy chain by collaborating with alternative provision. Furthermore, we should detach alternative provision from local authorities.”
It remains unclear if she suggested that the party would compel council-operated pupil referral units to transition into academies. As of January, there were 159 PRUs in England, in comparison to 121 AP academies.
Requests for clarification were sent to the party.
‘Every provider registered and inspected’
Trott insisted on the necessity for “registration of every provider” so that all settings undergo inspection by Ofsted, ensuring accountability and thorough evaluation, especially for the most disadvantaged and challenging children.
A report by the children’s commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, indicated that in 2023, there were 24,325 children in unregistered alternative provisions.
Additionally, the shadow education secretary advocated for automatic absence fines to be levied against children who fail to attend alternative provision, to ensure “they do not fall off the radar and slip into criminal activity.”
Present regulations, established by the Conservative government, stipulate that schools must consider enforcing absence fines when a pupil is absent for 10 or more sessions. However, it remains uncertain how the Conservatives’ proposed approach would diverge.
