Unofficial pupil exclusion report

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The Children's Commissioner for Wales has published a report on the "danger" of unofficial school exclusions.

Officially, schools should only keep pupils out of class if they have given them a fixed or permanent exclusion.

But the commission said many parents were asked to keep their children at home "unofficially", which could lead to "unforeseen consequences".

The report details the case of a teenager who was unofficially excluded by his school a number of times.

Luke Tanhai, 13, had attended Cardiff High School four years ago. He died in an accident with a bus on the day he was permanently excluded.

In his last year at the school he was officially excluded for 22 days.

But the commissioner's report suggests he had spent an additional 89 days out of school, unofficially.

They made me feel that I was doing the right thing... but the feeling I have to live with is that I did let him down Hannah Tanhai

Speaking on BBC Wales' current affairs programme Week In Week Out, Luke's mother Hannah Tanhai said she thought she was doing the best for her son by keeping her son at home.

"I didn't question anything for so long, they made me feel that I was doing the right thing, that I was doing it for Luke, but the feeling I have to live with is that I did let him down," she said.

"I let Luke down because I helped the school."

Cardiff High School said that they followed proper guidelines and kept the Local Education Authority informed about Luke.

But they have also admitted that he was absent from school for far too long.

Maria Battle, acting Children's Commissioner for Wales, said she was concerned about the impact on a child of unofficial exclusions and said that they needed to stop.

"At the very least they don't get their right to education," she said.

"But there are also unforeseen consequences which can be catastrophic.

To do an official exclusion could mean a black mark on a child's record, certainly on their educational life, but it could also impinge on their future careers David Evans, NUT Cymru

"They're basically off the radar screen. Because it's not done officially, because local education authorities are not told about the numbers, then they disappear."

But David Evans of the National Union of Teachers Cymru said that official exclusions were not always the best option.

"Schools are looking to do the best for all their pupils, at all times," he said.

"To do an official exclusion could mean a black mark on a child's record, certainly on their educational life, but it could also impinge on their future careers."

The Children's Commission for Wales said it hoped their report would result in clearer guidelines for schools and local authorities on exclusions, as well as informing parents and children about their rights.

Week In Week Out is shown at 22.35 GMT on BBC One Wales on Tuesday 2 October.