The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 govern when a pupil can be removed from the admissions/attendance register.

The regulations enable schools to delete compulsory school-age children in the following circumstances:

  • the school is replaced by another school on a school attendance order
  • the school attendance order is revoked by the LA
  • completion of compulsory school age
  • the permanent exclusion of a pupil  
  • the death of the pupil  
  • the pupil is transferred between schools  
  • the pupil is withdrawn to be educated outside the school system  
  • the pupil fails to return for an extended family holiday after both the school and the LA have tried to locate the pupil
  • a medical condition prevents their attendance and return to the school before ending compulsory school-age
  • the pupil is in custody for more than four months
  • there are 20 days continuous unauthorised absence and both the LA and school have tried to locate the pupil  
  • the pupil has left the school but it is not known where he/she has gone, after both the school and the LA have tried to locate the pupil.

Schools can only lawfully delete non-compulsory school-age children in the following circumstances:

  • the pupil has left the school
  • there are 20 school-days continuous absence without good reason  
  • the death of the pupil 
  • the permanent exclusion of a pupil
  • a child who was admitted to the nursery is not transferring to the reception class.

In general, pupils can be deleted from the register of one school if they register at another. However, it is possible for any pupil to register at more than one school and, where this happens, there are restrictions on applying the power to delete pupils because they are registered at another school. Schools can only delete pupils from the register if one of the circumstances in these regulations applies.

All other deletions are illegal and could result the court proceedings against the person responsible. With the exception of pupils who are subject to a school attendance order and pupils with special educational needs (SEN) for whom the LA has made arrangements, there is no requirement for LA approval of deletions from registers.