ABSTRACT
Head teachers and governors are often faced with difficult decisions and real dilemmas when attempting to manage a small minority of students. All students have a right to an education in an environment that is caring, disciplined and orderly. Returning a student into the exact situation that has already failed, and expecting them to make all the changes, is unlikely to work. Schools, teachers, parents and students need a range of options that can be tailored, as far as possible, to the needs of the individual situation. A degree of flexibility, innovation and collaboration is also required. Whenever fixed-term exclusion is used, anxiety and stress levels for the student, parents and staff are always increased. The temptation is to focus on what the student must do or change in order to comply with the requirements of the school or classroom.
