UK urban state schools have recently experienced increased pressure to improve their performance levels. This has been manifested through various campaigns to change the public perception of these schools while making improvements to the physical school environment. However, punitive policies on problematic pupils also appear to be increasingly used to sustain this image. Consequently, many are unofficially excluded and referred to off-site educational provision (OSEP) where they receive reduced timetables and unchallenging courses, and this reduces their chances of gaining a...