When can a school remove a pupil's name from the school's register?

A school can only remove a child’s name from its admission register in certain situations. These are set out in regulation 9 of The School Attendance (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2024.

This means that a school can only remove the name of a child from its register when one of these situations applies, as explained in paragraph 218 of the statutory guidance Working together to improve school attendance, 2024.

Here is a summary table describing some situations and whether the name of a child of compulsory school age can be removed from the register:

If	Then
A child’s EHC plan no longer names their current mainstream school, and they have not been registered at another school. This could be because their EHC plan has been amended and now names: only a type of school, or a different school which the child has not been registered at	the school cannot remove their name from its register on this basis. However, this may impact the delivery of the special educational provision set out in the EHC plan and the payment of school fees (if applicable). This will depend on your individual circumstances. Please take advice if you need support on this.
A child has been permanently excluded from their school	the school must remove their name from its register on this basis.
A parent has written to their child’s mainstream school to explain that their child will be receiving elective home education from a particular day (and there is no school attendance order naming that school)	the school must remove their name from its register on this basis.
A child attended an independent school but has left and is no longer a pupil of that school	the independent school must remove their name from its register on this basis.
A child is attending a special school, named in their EHC plan, but the parent wants to electively home educate them	the special school cannot remove their name from its register unless the local authority has agreed to it (or the Secretary of State has agreed, if the local authority has refused).

Please get support if you would like to discuss your child's situation.