The education secretary has personally intervened to prevent two 15-year-old pupils returning to school after making a series of telephone death threats to a teacher.

Forum Response: Association of Teachers and Lecturers

Gerald Imison, deputy general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers said: "This case has called into question the position of the independent appeals panel which can in secret come to a decision which is obviously perverse and serves to undermine all the teachers in the school who are trying to instil in pupil's proper codes of social behaviour.

"Given that speaking at the ATL conference, earlier this year, Estelle Morris said one assault against teachers is one too many. Also, the prime minister last week spoke of the 'culture of disrespect pervading our schools'. The DfES had no option but to take notice of ATL's justified concerns.

"These boys clearly forfeited the right to education in this school. It was wholly unreasonable to seek to send these young boys back into the school, apparently unpunished, where they could continue to cause disruption and distress."

Forum Response: Professional Association of Teachers

Jean Gemmell, general secretary of the Professional Association of Teachers, told ePolitix.com: "When pupils are reinstated it can cause extraordinary difficulties for both the school and the pupils.

"Exclusion only occurs when all other sanctions have been attempted and aren't working. It leads to relations between the school and the pupil breaking down. Pupils can get a fresh start by being readmitted elsewhere."