Off-rolling

Removing a pupil from the roll in the school's interests rather than the child's. Not lawful, and hard to prove.

What it is

Off-rolling is the practice of removing a pupil from a school's roll without a formal permanent exclusion, or pressuring a parent to remove them, where it is primarily in the interests of the school rather than the pupil.

It commonly appears as encouragement to home educate, or to move a child "voluntarily" to avoid a permanent exclusion on their record.

Where it applies

Any pupil, but disproportionately pupils with SEND, disadvantaged pupils, and pupils whose results would affect performance measures.

How it works

Ofsted looks for it and treats it as a serious concern. A school may only remove a pupil from the register for the reasons set out in the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations.

The pressure is rarely explicit. It is usually framed as being better for the child, offered at a meeting, and unrecorded.

What you can ask for

Ask for any suggestion that you remove your child to be put in writing. That request alone stops most of these conversations.

Ask what the alternative is. If the honest answer is a permanent exclusion, you have a right to a governors' review of that — and no right of review at all if you deregister voluntarily.

Take somebody with you to the meeting, and do not sign anything in the room.

Where to get help

IPSEA, Child Law Advice and SENDIASS. Ofsted takes reports of off-rolling as inspection intelligence.