School exclusions
Wakefield school exclusion team
This is the local authority's team that advises on exclusions from school.
Their exclusion helpline is 01924 307319 or email: exclusions@wakefield.gov.uk
Please ring them for impartial advice on anything to do with your child's suspension or permanent exclusion.
What is their role?
- to make sure that the government's exclusion guidance is followed to minimise disruption to a pupil's education
- to advise school staff, parents or carers, governors and professionals and others seeking support on the exclusion process
- to support schools to use alternatives to suspension or permanent exclusion and to refer to other supporting services where appropriate
- to provide training to all involved in the exclusion process
- to support clerks to the governing board
- to monitor all suspensions and permanent exclusions from maintained schools and academies, and produce data for reporting purposes to the government
The government's official guide about exclusions can be found at:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-exclusion
Exclusion is a very serious step and not one to be taken lightly. Only the head or academy principal has the power to suspend or permanently exclude a pupil. Exclusion can only be given when:
- a pupil breaks the school or academy's behaviour code (the school rules) - and;
- it would seriously harm the education or welfare of themselves or others if they stayed in the school
Pupils cannot be suspended for more than 45 days each school year. A pupil should always be able to give their views about what has happened.
When your child is suspended and the total days for the term are more than 15 or it's a permanent exclusion, the school exclusion team will send you a booklet of information through the post.
There are two types of exclusion: Suspension and Permanent exclusion
Suspension
Lasts for a number of days and means a pupil cannot be on school site or out in a public place unless there is a good reason otherwise parents can be given a penalty notice or in some instances face prosecution.
At the end of the suspension, the pupil returns to school.
Parents/carers are sent a letter usually after school has rung them to tell them about the suspension.
Permanent exclusion
Is given for very serious reasons and means a pupil cannot return to the school unless the governors decide to let them come back by reinstating the pupil back into school.
This happens after a formal meeting where the exclusion is discussed. Parents have a right to attend this meeting
Before deciding to exclude
The head/academy principal should: carry out an appropriate investigation; give the pupil a chance to say what happened; think carefully about the evidence available; follow the government's exclusion guidance 2022; where necessary, consult others.
The government's exclusion guidance 2022 says that the head can suspend or permanently exclude if they feel that it is more likely than not that the pupil has done what they are accused of and where other strategies are not appropriate.
Alternatives to exclusion
Schools and academies should have lots of different strategies in place to help pupils manage their behaviour and stay in school without being suspended or permanently excluded.
Parents may be asked in to school to discuss how best to support their child. It is good practice for parents to be involved and consulted.
Off-Rolling or Unlawful exclusions
It is never legal for any school to send a pupil home to 'cool off' even when parents have agreed. All sending home for misbehaviour must be recorded as an official and legal exclusion.
Off-rolling is where a school exerts undue influence over a parent to remove their child from school under threat of permanent exclusion and encourages them to choose Elective Home Education or to find another school place. If a parent feels under pressure, or that the exclusion process has not been followed, they should follow the school or academy complaints procedure.
Informing parents of an exclusion
Schools must tell parents about a suspension or permanent exclusion. Usually this is by telephone first then by letter.
If no letter arrives, parents must ring school to ask if the suspension or permanent exclusion is official.
What about a pupil's education?
For the first 5 days of an exclusion the school should take reasonable steps to set and mark work for pupils. From the 6th day of a suspension the school must provide alternative fulltime education.
For a permanent exclusion, the local authority will put in place education from the 6th day. Staff will contact you to arrange a visit.
Parent's rights
Parents always have the right to challenge an exclusion. If a parent is unhappy about an exclusion their child has received, they should first try talking to the school direct.
Parents also have the right to put their case in writing and also in person to the school or academy governing board.
Details of who to contact will be in the letter the school sends home telling the parent about the suspension or permanent exclusion
When governors must meet
Governors must meet when: the number of day's exclusion in one term goes over 15 or a pupil will miss a public exam, or when the exclusion is permanent.
The governor's clerk will contact parents to agree a time and date for the meeting so they can attend.
Why is there a governor's meeting?
The governors will decide if the exclusion was the right action to take. They hear all the evidence about the exclusion and the reasons why the head decided to exclude
For a permanent exclusion why is there a governors meeting?
The governors will decide if the permanent exclusion was the right action to take. They hear all the evidence about the exclusion and the reasons why the head decided to exclude.
Parents are always invited to attend, to put forward their case about the exclusion which governors must take into account before making their decision.
If governors agree that the permanent exclusion was the right decision, then the pupil stays at the local authority provision, usually a pupil referral unit (PRU).
If parents are unhappy with this decision, they can apply for an independent review. Details about this will be in the letter sent by the local authority.
Who will be at the meeting?
At least 3 governors (none should have an involvement which may make them biased); a clerk to take notes and advise the governors on exclusion law; the head to put their case; parent, their support (family or friend), and excluded child if they want to; the local authority officer (if the parents have requested this for academies)
How will the meeting be run?
The meeting will be held in a suitable place in school, so everyone is comfortable. Before and after the meeting, governors must always be on their own or with the clerk.
What can governors decide?
They can decide the exclusion was: the appropriate decision and it stays on the pupil's record, or the wrong decision and note this on the pupil's record. If this is a permanent exclusion, the pupil will return to the school.
What if this is a permanent exclusion meeting?
If governors agree that the permanent exclusion was the right decision, then the pupil stays at the pupil referral unit (PRU).
If parents are unhappy with this decision, they can apply for an independent review.
What is an independent review?
This is where 3 people not connected with the school look at the whole case again.
How to apply will be in the letter the governors and the local authority send parents after the governors meeting.
Even if parents did not attend the governors meeting, they can still apply for an independent review.