"It was heartbreaking."

That's how one father has described his son's downfall after it was "suggested" that he move schools because he wasn't clever enough.

The Melbourne dad was among scores of parents, teachers and students who contacted Fairfax Media following our investigation into how schools are locking low-performing students out of the VCE to boost results.

This is what readers had to say:

"I work in an elite state school, this is happening everywhere. Public, private, catholic... all of the sectors. The "unscored" VCE has become an insidious trend. If you look below the surface at schools that have recently improved their results, I am absolutely certain that you will find they have a significant percentage of their students completing an unscored VCE. At my school, some students are "encouraged" to go unscored in one subject - they say it's for the student's benefit but we know it's all about the data."

"My independent and high achieving school would prevent students from doing methods if their mark was under 60 to 70 per cent as it would bring done the high study score marks. However this prevented many students from meeting the pre-requisites of many university courses. Many students were prevented from applying for university courses as they had not met prerequisites."

"They wanted me out as they were certain I wouldn't score well. My parents insisted that I stay. I did well and became a teacher. Schools have been doing this for years."

"When my son was in Year 10 at a state school a few years ago, the curriculum coordinator "suggested" that he needed to look elsewhere to complete his high school education.  At NO point did the school state directly that they did not think he could complete VCE. It was emotionally and psychologically damaging for him. It was heart breaking for him as he then lost contact with his cohort of friends. He is a recluse now. I wonder if the department knows and cares about the serious ramifications it has on the students and their families because the schools behave in such a abhorrent and unchecked manner.  The costs for huge."

"In Melbourne you hear of certain private schools that have a reputation of managing students out. It happens at all levels, not just in Year 11 and 12. Other schools have a reputation for accepting these "rejects". The school my daughter attended in Melbourne accepted many "rejects" from other private schools who were obviously trying to reduce their teaching effort and manage their ranking upwards. I'm impressed that my daughter's school did this even though they must surely suffer significantly in their own ranking. Her school still manages to be a top 10 school but I think under pressure of the rankings this practice may change."

"My cousin is not academic but to give her the best chance, my aunt and uncle sent her to a $25,000 a year private school. From Year 10 the school tried to push her out as she was an under-performer and when she was in Year 11 last year, they said she should leave or do VCAL.  My uncle convinced them to let her do VCE this year, but she won't be getting an ATAR because the school doesn't want her to 'ruin' their VCE results.  I find that disgusting."

"My son went to a Sydney Catholic school and was counselled to leave before sitting the HSC as they felt his grades would have a detrimental effect on the average school result.  To say his self worth was affected is an understatement. He felt rejected by the very people who had been building him up over the previous four years. He wanted to graduate and wants to study history at university, and is now working on a casual basis in a bottle shop."

- The Age