Exclusions - Information for parents

If a pupil’s behaviour is so serious that the head teacher decides they can't be on school grounds, they can make the pupil leave the school. This is called an exclusion.

Being excluded 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 as a last resort for a pupil's behaviour.

Process for exclusion

There is a formal process that head teachers must follow when they exclude a pupil

• Schools 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

A suspension means:

• a pupil is excluded from school for a fixed number of days with a date set for their return to school
• pupils are not allowed on the school premises
• parents are responsible for their child’s supervision during the first five days of a suspension and schools must provide work to be completed during this time

If a suspension is longer than 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:

• the pupil can't return to the school unless they are the school’s governing body says they can
• head teachers must consider, when making this decision, if 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 the sixth day of exclusion - this is usually at a pupil referral unit.

Reviews of permanent exclusions

School governor review

A panel of school governors will invite the parents and pupil to a meeting or hearing to consider the head teacher’s decision to permanently exclude the pupil.

The governors will decide if the pupil can return to the school (reinstate the pupil) or agree with (uphold) the head teacher’s decision and not allow the pupil to return. 

Independent review panel

If governors uphold the exclusion, 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, the panel can ask the governors to reconsider bringing the pupil back to school. The panel does not 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, we offer family support with the expectation that the support worker will meet with you, your child and the school to identify any issues that may have contributed to the behaviour.

Help and support

Parents and carers of excluded children can get independent legal advice from the Islington Law Centre. To book an appointment call 020 7288 7630 (main switchboard) and ask to speak to the education advisor.

You can get expert advice about exclusion from school - before during or after an exclusion - from a legal adviser with no need to book. Just come to an advice session at 222 Upper Street in the time slot one Friday each month. Dates and times are:

For information about other organisations that can provide help and support around exclusions, search on the Find Your Islington directory.

Contacts

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