Detention Diaries #1: From SEND to PRU: Lessons from the Edge of Education

When mainstream can’t meet every need — what really happens inside a Pupil Referral Unit? 

In this episode of Detention Diaries, I sit down with David — a former SENDCo at my school who’s now working as English Lead in a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU). He’s someone who’s lived the reality of trying to make mainstream education work for every student… and then decided to see what life was like beyond it.

We talk about the truth behind alternative provision — the successes, the heartbreaks, the misconceptions — and what it’s like teaching young people who’ve already been written off by the system. David shares his honest thoughts on behaviour, inclusion, and what schools get wrong (and right) when supporting students with complex needs.

Expect insight, humour, and a few moments that might make you rethink what “success” looks like in education. Oh — and maybe a little swearing. Because when you’re working in a PRU, sometimes there’s just no other word that fits.

If you’ve ever worked with challenging students, tried to keep your cool during yet another “urgent” behaviour meeting, or wondered what happens after exclusion — this episode pulls back the curtain.