BOB Minter from Tower Hamlets has misunderstood (Letters, November 19). In certain circumstances a school with a vacant place can refuse a pupil. Section 87 of The School Standards and Framework Act applies to children excluded from two schools or more. The duty to admit does not include such children. Firfield school is probably correct to refuse a place to the boy excluded permanently from two schools, unless the child has a statement of special educational needs or unless both exclusions took place before September 1997.

Peter Thomson

Kilty Goldfarb amp; Co Solicitors

Leicester