Exclusions support and advice for pupils

We are committed to supporting children and their families to avoid school suspensions and exclusions, as well as those involved in the permanent exclusion process.

Our innovative partnership with the University of Birmingham (UoB) focuses on proactively preventing exclusion. This includes preventative approaches to avoid escalation, suspension and exclusions in schools linked to:

• vaping
• use of phones in school (before the official Department for Education ban)
• use of weapons

UoB Pro Bono project: Youth supporting youth

Young law students from UoB produced materials for school pupils. As they were recently school pupils themselves, they understand young people’s experiences and presented the information in a way that appeals to them.

The following presentations with voiceovers and associated literature were produced by Lilian Rogers, Muhammad Mahad Siddiq, Megan Shakespeare, Christina Vlassova, Nissi Arday and Milica Miljanic.

Watch the video about carrying weapons in school.

Watch the video about using mobile phones in school.

Watch the video about vaping in schools

Acknowledgements

We want to thank the following people for their contributions in preparing these resources:

• Wasim Arif, Senior Education Leader, Birmingham City Council
• Emily Rose, Associate Professor, University of Birmingham
• Amy Tabari, Assistant Professor, Solicitor and Deputy Head of CEPLER (pro bono)
• UoB law students: Lilian Rogers, Muhammad Mahad Siddiq, Megan Shakespeare, Christina Vlassova, Nissi Arday and Milica Miljanic

Recommendation for schools

We recommend that schools share this information with pupils to support them in making the right choices to avoid escalation leading to suspension and exclusions.

Page last updated: 22 July 2026