This page gives a basic overview of the law on school exclusions. For more detail on specific areas, please explore the other pages in the ‘Legal Framework’ section.What is school exclusion? School exclusion is when a pupil is removed from school for disciplinary reasons, either temporarily (suspension) or permanently (permanent exclusion). A pupil might be excluded for different reasons, such …

Guidance Behaviour in schools: advice for headteachers and school staff Behaviour and discipline in schools: guide for governing bodies School suspensions and permanent exclusions Topic-specific guidance Preventing and tackling bullying Mental health and behaviour in schools Searching, screening and confiscation in schools Mobile phones in schools Drugs: advice for schools Use of reasonable force in schools Child-on-child sexual violence and …

Guidance School suspensions and permanent exclusions School exclusions: guide for parents Behaviour in schools Alternative provision Elective home education Introduction Suspensions and permanent exclusions should typically be considered as a last resort. Behaviour in schools outlines a range of acceptable disciplinary measures that schools may use, aside from exclusions. In addition to these, schools and parents should also consider preventative …

Guidance School suspensions and permanent exclusions SEND code of practice Mental health and behaviour in schools Promoting the education of looked-after and previously looked-after children The Children Act 1989 guidance and regulations. Volume 2: care planning, placement and case review Designated teacher for looked-after and previously looked-after children Equality Act 2010: advice for schools Technical guidance for schools in England: …

Guidance School suspensions and permanent exclusions Data protection in schools Understanding and dealing with issues relating to parental responsibility Accessing pupils’ information (ICO) Subject Access Unlike a parent’s right of access to their child’s educational record (explained in the section below), pupils at any type of school have the right to access their own information. This is known as the …

What is off-rolling? Off‑rolling is defined by Ofsted as the practice of removing a pupil from the school roll without a formal, permanent exclusion, or by encouraging a parent to do so, when the removal serves the interests of the school rather than the best interests of the pupil. Not all of the examples on this page of informal or …

Investigation and decision-making stage The school exclusion statutory guidance does not provide detailed instructions on the investigation and decision-making stage. There is a section titled ‘Factors to consider before making a decision to exclude,’ which mainly focuses on alternatives to exclusion and pupils with additional needs, both of which are covered in earlier pages of the ‘The Law’ section of the …

Introduction The type of alternative education an excluded pupil is entitled to, and who is responsible for arranging it, depends on whether the exclusion is a suspension (and its duration) or a permanent exclusion. Guidance on alternative education can be found in part six of the School exclusion guidance, in the context of school exclusions, and more generally in the …

What is a school’s governing board? A governing board, also known as a governing body or board of governors, and referred to as a board of trustees in academy schools, is a group of people responsible for overseeing a school. Each individual school has a governing board. Their responsibilities include: setting the school’s vision, ethos, and strategic direction; ensuring the …

What is an Independent Review Panel? When a pupil is permanently excluded, their parents (or the pupil if aged 18 or over) may request an Independent Review Panel (IRP) if the school’s governing board decides to uphold the exclusion. The panel’s role is to review the governing board’s decision not to reinstate the pupil and assess whether it was properly …

Introduction When a pupil’s permanent exclusion is reviewed by an Independent Review Panel (IRP), the IRP may decide that the school’s governing board should reconsider its original decision not to reinstate the pupil. The IRP can either recommend or direct the governing board to reconsider, depending on its findings. How soon must the governing board reconsider? Where the IRP directs …

Please see Vulnerable pupils for more guidance on discrimination. Claims of disability discrimination Where is the claim made to? A claim of disability discrimination is made to the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability). What’s the time limit to make a claim? The claim must be received by the tribunal within six months of the alleged discrimination. Who is …