managed moves
Case reference FOI2026/02471
Received 13 October 2026
Published 21 October 2026
Request
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I am requesting information about managed moves involving pupils at schools within your local authority area.
For the purposes of this request, a managed move means an arrangement for a pupil to transfer from one school to another, usually as an alternative to permanent exclusion. I recognise that terminology and recording practices may vary between schools and local authorities. Please provide the following information for the academic years specified under each question, where held.
1. Number of managed moves
a) How many managed moves were arranged for pupils transferring between schools within your local authority area?
b) How many managed moves involved pupils transferring from a mainstream school to another mainstream school, and how many involved transfers to alternative provision or another type of setting, where recorded?
Period: Academic years 2023–24, 2024–25 and 2025–26.
2. Outcomes of managed moves
a) How many managed moves were recorded as successfully completed?
b) How many managed moves broke down, were unsuccessful or resulted in the pupil returning to their original school?
c) How many managed moves were still ongoing or had no recorded outcome at the end of each academic year?
Period: Academic years 2023–24, 2024–25 and 2025–26.
3. Subsequent suspensions and permanent exclusions
a) Of the pupils who underwent a managed move, how many subsequently received one or more suspensions at their receiving school, where recorded?
b) How many subsequently received a permanent exclusion from their receiving school, where recorded?
c) How many pupils whose managed moves broke down or were unsuccessful subsequently received a permanent exclusion, where recorded?
Period: Academic years 2023–24, 2024–25 and 2025–26.
Please provide the information in an excel spreadsheet format if possible.
Response
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I am requesting information about managed moves involving pupils at schools within your local authority area.
For the purposes of this request, a managed move means an arrangement for a pupil to transfer from one school to another, usually as an alternative to permanent exclusion. I recognise that terminology and recording practices may vary between schools and local authorities.
Please provide the following information for the academic years specified under each question, where held.
1. Number of managed moves
a) How many managed moves were arranged for pupils transferring between schools within your local authority area?
b) How many managed moves involved pupils transferring from a mainstream school to another mainstream school, and how many involved transfers to alternative provision or another type of setting, where recorded?
Period: Academic years
2023–24,
2024–25 and
2025–26.
2. Outcomes of managed moves
a) How many managed moves were recorded as successfully completed?
b) How many managed moves broke down, were unsuccessful or resulted in the pupil returning to their original school?
c) How many managed moves were still ongoing or had no recorded outcome at the end of each academic year?
Period: Academic years
2023–24,
2024–25 and
2025–26.
3. Subsequent suspensions and permanent exclusions
a) Of the pupils who underwent a managed move, how many subsequently received one or more suspensions at their receiving school, where recorded?
b) How many subsequently received a permanent exclusion from their receiving school, where recorded?
c) How many pupils whose managed moves broke down or were unsuccessful subsequently received a permanent exclusion, where recorded?
Period: Academic years
2023–24,
2024–25 and
2025–26.
Please provide the information in an excel spreadsheet format if possible.
Answer: In response to the above questions the service area has advised that the Local Authority does not maintain a central register of all managed moves because there is no statutory requirement within the Suspension and permanent exclusion from maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units in England, including pupil movement guidance for local authorities to do so.
Please see the below link for further information,
The guidance defines managed moves as voluntary agreements between the pupil's current school, the receiving school, parents and the relevant admission authority, with responsibility for arranging and implementing the move resting principally with the schools involved.
Managed moves are distinct from permanent exclusions and are not subject to the same statutory notification requirements placed on schools. Whilst schools are required to notify the local authority of suspensions and permanent exclusions, the guidance does not impose a corresponding duty on schools to notify the local authority of every managed move, nor does it require local authorities to maintain a central record.
The Local Authority maintains oversight of pupil movement through statutory data returns, school admissions processes, Fair Access arrangements, exclusions reporting and SEND case management,
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.