Over 70 per cent of permanent exclusions from secondary schools recorded by Wiltshire Council in a year occurred in one multi academy trust (MAT).

Of the 26 secondary permanent exclusions in 2023/24, 19 were from a multi academy trust that has chosen not to be a part of the current Service Level Agreement (SLA) model in Wiltshire.

This information was discussed by the children’s select committee at a meeting on Wednesday, November 26, during which a councillor suggested the schools in question be “named and shamed”.  

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Cllr Jon Hubbard is the chairman of the children's select committee.Cllr Jon Hubbard is the chairman of the children's select committee. (Image: Wiltshire Council) The SLA is a collaborative funding and decision-making approach where the council devolves funding to secondary schools to support inclusive practices and prevent permanent exclusions.

According to the report presented to the committee, in 2023, one grammar school and one MAT, which incorporates two schools, decided not to join the SLA.

Of the 26 aforementioned exclusions, 20 came from these three schools – one from the grammar school and 19 from the MAT.

The report presented to the committee stated that this recent increase in permanent exclusions is “attributable to the decision of these schools to step outside of the model”.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Jon Hubbard asked: “Why don’t we name them?”

He added: “We’ve got some headteachers in our county who work so hard to provide an environment in which every child can be educated, and they can meet the needs of those children.”

However, he claimed that other schools had “gone to town on excluding students” with CEOs “who are delighted to hide their practice amongst all the good practice that everyone else does, confident in the knowledge they can get away with it”.

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He concluded: “I think parents, when making choices about where to send their child for education, should be given that information.”

The council’s director for education and skills, Kathryn Davies, explained: “My focus is really on how we continue to develop those strong working relationships so that we don’t close any doors to coming back into the SLA.”

Overall, the report noted that Wiltshire schools continue to have very low rates of permanent exclusion compared to the south-west and national rates.

Wiltshire Council has a statutory duty to provide alternative provision for learners who are not able to attend school due to their exclusion, SEND, or medical needs.