Pupil Access and Community Services

County Hall

Martineau Lane

Norwich

NR1 2DL

Minicom: (01603) 223833

Mr M Shenstone

PA&CS/MS/BM 01603 223475

13 May 2003 01603 223838

mike.shenstone.edu@norfolk.gov.uk

To Headteachers of all High Schools

Dear Headteacher

Managed Moves for Pupils on Point of Exclusion

Both locally and nationally there has been a concern that pupils who have been excluded or are being transferred at the point of exclusion will tend to go in the first instance to those schools where there are spaces and this can result in a disproportionate number accumulating at one school.

A pilot scheme has been operating in the Central Area and part of the North which has so far proved successful in “spreading the load” between schools in an open and transparent way and has enabled the transfer to occur in a way that is supportive for all involved. The extension of the scheme to other parts of the County has been discussed in other areas and the NASH Executive has endorsed the scheme. We are now intending to introduce it on a county-wide basis with effect from 1 September 2003.

A description of the scheme is attached to this letter for any final comments or clarification that schools may wish to make. The recent Education Act established mandatory Admission Forums, part of whose brief will be to promote effective admission arrangements for children who have been excluded from school. The Forum is currently being reconstituted and when this has been done, I shall be recommending the adoption of this scheme to the Forum. It will then become an arrangement to which all admission authorities should have regard.

We had not so far had an agreed, county-wide way of dealing with the difficulties that can occur when children are excluded. I think that the current scheme that is based on local

schools working together in a fair and transparent way with support from specialist LEA services will provide an excellent approach from September. I should be happy for any comments you may wish to make to be sent to Mike Shenstone (Assistant Director). If you wish to put the scheme and its operations on the agenda of your Summer Term area NASH meeting, I would be happy to arrange for a LEA Officer to join the discussion. Again, if you could let Mike Shenstone know the date and time, he will arrange this.

Yours sincerely

Director of Education