There are two types of exclusion, fixed term exclusion and permanent exclusion. Exclusion from school is a serious step for a school to take. The Head Teacher should send a letter within one school day, which must include:
The precise period of the exclusion
The reasons for your exclusion
Your right to state your case to the governors and how to go about this
Fixed term and Permanent exclusions should not be used for minor incidents such as:
Not doing homework
Not bringing dinner money
Poor academic performance
Lateness
Truancy
Pregnancy
Breaking school uniform rules
Poor behaviour from parents
Parent’s refusal to attend meetings
Fixed term exclusion
To find out if you have the right to put your case in person to the governors, you need to check how many days your child has been fixed term excluded.
Fixed term exclusions should not add up to more than forty-five school days in one school year.
Even if you do not want to put your case to the governors, it generally helps your child if you meet with teachers to discuss the exclusion and the future.
If the total is less than five school days, the school governors DO NOT have to meet.
If the total is five and a half school days or more, or if your child will miss a public examination, you have the right to put your case at a meeting of the governors.
When exclusions total more than fifteen days in one term, the governors must meet to review the exclusion whether or not you choose to attend.
The governors are able to return to school a child who is still excluded, this is called reinstatement.
Permanent Exclusion
Permanent exclusion should be used as a last resort when all other alternatives have been exhausted. Your child should only have been excluded from school if:
They have seriously broken the school’s behaviour policy
It would seriously harm the education or welfare of themselves or others if they stayed in school
Children can be excluded for behaviour outside school if the Headteacher feels that there is a clear link between that behaviour and maintaining good behaviour within the school.
Only the Head Teacher may exclude. If the Head is absent it should be the most senior teacher who is acting as Head.
The Head Teacher, before deciding to permanently exclude should make sure:
A thorough investigation was carried out
Give your child a chance to say what happened
Think carefully about the evidence available
Take into account the school’s behaviour and equal opportunities policy
Once the school has sent you official notification of the permanent exclusion, the school will need to organise a governors meeting. The meeting must be held within fifteen school days of the exclusion.
You can put your case in writing to the school governors but it is generally much better to be there in person.
It is NOT necessary for your child to attend the governors meeting.
The governors’ meeting consists of three or five governors (none should have any involvement with your case, this could make them biased), a clerk to take notes at the meeting and a LEA representative (Co-ordinator for Exclusions and Pupil Placements).
The Headteacher will present his/her case and possibly any witnesses.
The Chair of the meeting will introduce everyone at the meeting and then ask the Headteacher to present the case and ask any questions. The governors will then ask you to present your case and ask any questions. The LEA representative should make a comment and then the governors will ask everyone to leave, whilst they make a decision. The governors have 24 hours to make a decision.
The governors can decide either to re-instate your child or uphold the Headteachers decision.
If the governors uphold the decision, you can either appeal that decision via an Independent Appeal or you can write to the LEA informing them that you do not wish to appeal. Your child then becomes the LEA’s responsibility to place in educational provision.
Contact details
Tel: 020 8583 2784
Fax: 020 8583 2777
Minicom: 020 8583 2618
Iram Hafri
Co-ordinator for Exclusions and Pupil Placements
Children's Services and Lifelong Learning
The Civic Centre
Lampton Road
Hounslow
TW3 4DN
Related Services
ACE Advisory Service
1C Aberdeen Studios
22 Highbury Grove
London N5 2DQ
Tel: 020 7354 8318