Inquiry into Leeds schools 'off-rolling' pupils to be shelved until 2021

Concerns around off-rolling – the practice of schools finding ways to remove troublesome pupils from their registers without a formal exclusion – was heard by an inquiry into the issue in February and March this year.

The inquiry, which also looked into the issue of elective home education and school exclusions, was suspended, following the Covid-19 lockdown in March.

A report, set to go before Leeds City Council’s children and families scrutiny board next week, proposes the inquiry is paused until “at least January 2021”, when the position will once again be reviewed to find a suitable time-frame to finish the inquiry. It claims the priority over the coming months is ensuring children return to school safely.

The meetings held earlier this year heard how there was a significant increase in the number of parents choosing the home educate pupils in their final years of secondary school or with special educational needs.

Experts were concerned this may be a result of schools encouraging families to home educate their children to avoid the prospect of permanent exclusion – and therefore off-rolling pupils to benefit the school.

It also heard how the number of fixed term exclusions – otherwise known as suspension – had increased dramatically over the years; while internal exclusions – known as isolation – were not measured in many schools, as they were not obliged to provide the data.

The report, set to go before an online meeting of the scrutiny board next week, stated: “While the Scrutiny Board remains committed in completing its Inquiry work, the pandemic response clearly had a profound impact on local schools too and will continue to do so over the coming months as their primarily focus remains on building the confidence of staff and families in managing an effective and safe return to school.

“In view of this, it is proposed that the Scrutiny Board’s Inquiry work is paused until at least January 2021 and that the Board reviews the position again at that stage to identify a suitable time-frame for resuming this Inquiry.”

The children and families scrutiny board will meet on Wednesday, September 9 to discuss the report.