Exclusions - Information for parents

What is an exclusion?

If a pupil’s behaviour is so serious that the head teacher decides they cannot remain on the school premises, they can require the pupil to leave the school on disciplinary grounds. 

An exclusion means that a pupil has broken the school rules and breached the school’s behaviour policy. Exclusion is a serious matter and should only be used to sanction a pupil’s behaviour as a last resort.  

There is a formal process that head teachers must follow when they exclude a pupil. For example, they must write to the parent to explain why the pupil has been excluded and for how long. Parents have the right to request a review of the head teacher’s decision and the letter must explain how they can do this. A copy of the letter will go on the pupil’s file. 

Types of exclusion

There are two main types of exclusions - suspensions and permanent exclusions.

Suspensions

A suspension means that a pupil is excluded from school for a fixed number of days with a date set for their return to school. During the suspension, pupils are not allowed on the school premises. Parents are responsible for their child’s supervision during the first five days of a suspension. Schools must provide work to be completed during this time. For suspensions that extend beyond five days, the school must put in place full-time, supervised education for the pupil – usually at another school.

Permanent exclusions

A permanent exclusion means that the pupil cannot return to the school ever again unless they are reinstated by the school’s governing body. In coming to a decision on permanent exclusion, head teachers must consider whether there has been a serious breach or persistent breaches of the school discipline policy and that allowing the pupil to remain at school would seriously harm the education or welfare of the pupil or others in the school. The local authority where the child lives must make education arrangements from Day six. This is usually at a pupil referral unit.

Review of the decision to permanently exclude a pupil

The parents and the pupil will be invited to attend a meeting or hearing where a panel of school governors will consider the head teacher’s decision to permanently exclude the pupil. The governors will decide whether the pupil can return to the school (reinstatement) or whether to uphold the head teacher’s decision and not allow the pupil to return. 

If the exclusion is upheld by governors, parents have the right to ask for a meeting with an independent review panel who will consider whether the governors made the right decision. If they think the governors’ decision was not reasonable, they can ask them to reconsider returning the pupil to school. They do not however have the power to reinstate pupils.     

What happens after an exclusion?

A reintegration meeting should take place with you and your child to discuss the support that will be put in place to prevent an exclusion happening again. In Islington, an offer of family support is also made with the expectation that the support worker will liaise with you, your child and the school to identify any issues that may have contributed to the behaviour.

Where can I get help?

Parents and carers of excluded children can get independent legal advice from the Islington Law Centre. To book an appointment please call

Tel:  020 7288 7630 (main switchboard) and ask to speak to the Education advisor.

For information about other organisations that can provide help and support around exclusions, please see the Islington Directory.

Contacts

You can contact Islington’s Exclusions Officer by ringing 020 7527 5515 or emailing in-year@islington.gov.uk.