Some pupils cannot be integrated into mainstream education. The blind commitment by the Government and Education Authorities to overload non-selective state schools with EBD pupils whilst still expecting a higher overall performance level is unfair as well as unrealistic. When a repeatedly disruptive or violent pupil has received additional support, but has failed to improve their behaviour there must be a limit to what teachers and schools can be expected to provide. This being on the basis of safety for other pupils as well as their right to an education. Normally the fate of these continuously disruptive pupils was expulsion, this seldom now happens.
Financial disincentives are even in place to make sure schools keep disruptive pupils.
The losers in all of this are the teachers, parents and well behaved pupils. They now view non-exclusion as weakness, poor management and lack of support from the school. Disruptive pupils and poor management are cited as the two main reasons for teachers quitting the profession. As a consequence once again the actions of a few affect the outcome for the many. Those that try and include, but fail, get penalised.