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Former partner went to collect learners sent down (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

expelled

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'sent down' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with social activities as well as being past participle verbs.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'former partner went to collect learners' is the wordplay.
'former partner' becomes 'ex' (an ex-partner).
'went' becomes 'peed' (both can mean urinated).
'to collect' means one lot of letters goes inside another (inserted letters are collected by others).
'learners' becomes 'LL' (L-plates are seen on learner drivers' cars).
'peed' placed around 'll' is 'pelled'.
'ex'+'pelled'='EXPELLED'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for expelled that I've seen before include "Removed (eg from school)" , "Forced to leave" , "Driven out" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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