Exclusion of pupils

A headteacher may decide to permanently exclude a pupil under strict circumstances to protect education or welfare of the other pupils and staff in the school. The education authority will provide support and advice for parents of excluded children and for the child.

Exclusion from school means that the pupil is not allowed into school for disciplinary reasons.

There are two types of exclusion:

• School suspensions for a fixed period - which can range from half a day to a maximum of 45 school days in a school year (a child can also be excluded for lunchtimes)
• Permanent exclusion 

"Suspension" means that a pupil is not allowed in school for a specified number of days because they have breached the school’s behaviour policy.

Pupils who misbehave at lunchtime may be suspended for lunchtime only. Each lunchtime suspension counts as half a day.

During this period, pupil is not allowed on the school site; however, it does not have to be a continuous period. This might apply if a pupil attends college or other off-site provision for part of the week.

A pupil cannot be given more than 45 days fixed term suspensions in one academic school year.

When a pupil has a fixed term suspensions, the school must set and mark work for the first five days of the suspensions and from the sixth day must provide a full-time education provision.

Suspensions for more than 5 school days

If any suspension is for more than 5 school days, parents/ carers can request a meeting of the school to review the exclusion. The Governors must agree to this request and meet within 50 school days.

Suspension for more than 15 school days

When suspensions total over 15 school days in one term, the Governors must arrange a meeting to consider the exclusion within 15 school days. The parents/ carers and a LA representative must be invited to this.

A pupil is permanently excluded for a serious breach or persistent breaches of the school’s behaviour policy and if being in school would harm the education or welfare of themselves or others.

Permanent exclusion should only be used as a last resort and it means that the pupil would no longer be allowed to attend the school.

When a pupil is permanently excluded, the school must provide work for the first five days of the exclusion and the LA is responsible for the education from the sixth school day.

Who can exclude?

Only the Headteacher has the power to exclude a pupil, or in his/her absence the acting head.

Reasons for exclusion

• All exclusions must be for disciplinary reasons only
• All schools must have a behaviour policy setting out what the school rules are
• All exclusions must be lawful, reasonable and fair
• Permanent exclusion should only be used as a last resort