As government considers measures to make schools more inclusive, Schools Week investigates how vulnerable pupils are being turned away from schools during in-year movesAs government considers measures to make schools more inclusive, Schools Week investigates how vulnerable pupils are being turned away from schools during in-year movesCouncils have accused schools of refusing so many challenging pupils it “amounts to selection”, capping cohorts to prevent in-year transfers of vulnerable pupils and wrongly turning away youngsters in care. “While we are committed to inclusion, expecting a small number of schools to admit all vulnerable pupils — regardless of capacity or context — is neither equitable nor sustainable. More than 100 local authorities found in-year admissions to secondary schools had become more challenging in 2023-24, up from 72 the year before. A “number of local authority schools have funded deficits … [which are] propping their class structures up”, allowing them to take on more pupils in-year. Blackburn with Darwen council reported “significant challenge” caused, in part, by “some schools reducing their admission number” for years 8 to 11.