Managing Inclusion: Reducing the Burden

Description

Since 2003, the headteachers of Coventry's 19 secondary schools have created an alternative to permanent exclusion called "Managed Moves".

Having pupils "dumped" on him was a serious issue for Robin Brabban, headteacher of Barr's Hill School when he arrived six years ago. But the scheme allows pupils to be transferred via a pupil referral unit from one school to another. For Martin Bonathan, head of inclusion, this offers a much more sympathetic approach for pupils and allows the negotiation of a fairer distribution of difficult and disruptive pupils between schools.

We hear from a variety of people who have been involved in the scheme:

• Julian Charters, chair of the secondary heads group, explains how headteachers are now more willing to take on the burden of dealing with difficult pupils
• Marion Simpson, head of SEN Management Services discusses a new case
• Learning mentor Lesley Longden highlights the difficulties that can resurface for some pupils
• Martin Bonathan talks about how co-operation between the headteachers is central to the continuing success of the scheme

See the resources and support materials page for links to more information on managing inclusion.

Part of the series: Primary NQTs