Damian Hinds has warned schools that he may legislate to make them accountable for pupils that they exclude.

The education secretary, echoing comments made last month, has vowed to take action on exclusions and pledged to improve standards in alternative-provision settings.

Former children’s minister Edward Timpson is due to publish the findings of an inquiry into school exclusions at the beginning of next year, and Mr Hinds said the government would respond to its conclusions.  

His comments come amid increasing concern about pupils being permanently excluded or informally encouraged to leave school rolls to boost league table results, known as “off-rolling”.

”We have an ongoing externally-led review of school exclusions, but I want to be clear that holding schools to account for the pupils they place in alternative provision and permanently exclude is not off the table,” he said.

Cutting school exclusions

“Being excluded should never be at the cost of a child’s education. No matter the obstacles they may face or the backgrounds they’re from, we want our young people to receive an education that fosters ambition and a confidence in their abilities.

“We need to be just as ambitious for pupils in alternative provision as we are for those in mainstream schools – with high-quality teaching and education, so parents can feel reassured and positive about their child’s future.”

In June, Ofsted said it had identified 300 schools that had lost unusually large numbers of pupils between Year 10 and their GCSEs.

This week the regulator told MPs that its new inspections framework will allow inspectors to take off-rolling and high rates of exclusions into account when rating schools.

This month, Labour’s shadow education secretary, Angela Rayner, said she would ensure that the results of a pupil who leaves a school's roll would remain with the school until they have a permanent place elsewhere.

Alternative provision exists for pupils who do not attend mainstream school for reasons such as school exclusion, behaviour issues,or short- or long-term illness.

Evidence shows children educated in alternative provision are less likely to achieve good GCSE grades and are also less likely to be in education, employment or training post-16.

New research on alternative provision, due to be published today, looks at the reasons behind this disparity and how mainstream schools can work effectively with alternative provision providers.