Conservative leader Michael Howard is set to announce plans to scrap the appeals system for children excluded from school.

The panels have been accused of allowing violent children back into classes, and the party believes the move will help to improve school discipline.

Government Response: Department for Education and Skills

A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills said: "It would be chaotic and extremely costly for schools to get rid of the appeals panels.''

Forum Response: Secondary Heads Association

John Dunford, general secretary of the Secondary Heads' Association, said: "My view is that this is not a sensible proposal. It is superficially attractive but I think it will lead to more parents taking schools to court.

"Nothing is final now until you get to the House of Lords and - because of that - it would seem sensible to build in at the lowest possible stage an appeals mechanism to which parents can have recourse.''

Forum Response: National Union of Teachers

Doug McAvoy, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: "There can be miscarriages of justice which could well end up in court if there is no method of appeal.''

"The NUT backs modifications to the appeals system introduced by Labour last year, which indicated panels should consider the rights of pupils left in the school not to have their education disrupted and that appeals should not be overturned in cases of violence against staff."

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