“Perhaps the saddest element of this short-sighted exclusion fix is that it delivers a message across the whole school that will not easily be forgotten by pupils, staff, SLT or the community: our disabled children are problems, not to be supported, but to be removed.”

Thomas Keaney, TCES Group’s chief executive and schools proprietor, warns about the ‘epidemic’ of school exclusions

“I think it’s a little rich to say school leaders have been the problem in terms of flexible working, when actually we’ve seen the numbers of teachers reduced and cuts to our schools which have left us with hardly any support staff and the means to which we can educate our children.”

Labour’s shadow education secretary, Angela Rayner, responds to education secretary Damian Hinds’ comments on flexible working

“Instead of hearing how headteachers raising academic and behavioural expectations has improved the life chances of pupils, too often, schools and headteachers are attacked for their methods.”

Schools minister Nick Gibb condemns the ‘shaming’ of heads who implement tough behaviour policies

“In the current environment, it takes a very brave headteacher to invest as much in meeting the needs of the most vulnerable and complex students as they do in chasing exam results.”

Adoption UK’s education policy adviser, Becky White, argues that schools should be judged on how they support their vulnerable pupils