What is off-rolling?
Off-rolling is when a pupil is unlawfully removed from the school register.
Ofsted's definition
Ofsted defines off-rolling as:
- Removing a pupil from the school roll without a formal, permanent exclusion; or
- Encouraging:
- A parent to remove their child from the school roll; or
- A sixth form pupil not to continue with their course of study; or
- Keeping a pupil on the school roll but not allowing them to attend school normally, without a formal permanent exclusion or suspension
And:
- When the decision is made primarily in the interests of the school and not the pupil
See paragraph 428 of the School Inspection Handbook.
The DfE's stance on unlawful exclusions and off-rolling
The exclusion is in response to a serious breach or persistent breaches of the school's behaviour policy; and Allowing the pupil to remain in school