How to best support pupils who are considered to be in danger of temporary or permanent exclusion from secondary school is an issue that is currently exercising policy makers, school managers and teachers in the UK. Using primary research data gained from interviews with secondary pupils, school managers and behaviour support staff in a group of secondary schools in Birmingham, UK; a range of strategic responses employed to respond to the pastoral support needs of vulnerable young people in danger of being temporarily or permanently excluded from school are considered. Adopting a case study methodology, qualitative data were generated from a series of semi-structured interviews with 49 year nine pupils, eight behaviour co-ordinators across seven secondary schools and three school managers. The findings indicate that the need for secondary schools to adopt comprehensive and appropriately resourced pastoral care policies and practices that have the capacity to both formally and informally respond to the needs of vulnerable young people at risk of being excluded from school.