School attendance and absence

Suspension and permanent exclusion from school

As a disciplinary measure, your child may be suspended (formerly known as fixed-term exclusion) or permanently excluded from school. This measure may be taken for breeches of the school’s behaviour policy.

Only the headteacher can decide to exclude a pupil. In the headteacher’s absence, the person who is acting as head will decide whether or not to exclude a pupil.

There are three types of suspension or exclusion:

  • permanent exclusion, which is when the headteacher has decided that your child cannot return to school unless they are reinstated by the school's governing board. The pupil's home local authority is responsible for providing interim education from the sixth day of the permanent exclusion.
  • suspension, which is exclusion for a fixed number of school days (up to 45 school days in an academic year), after which your child must return to school. If the number of days is more than five, the school's governing board will arrange for alternative full-time education from the sixth day of the suspension.
  • lunchtime suspension, which excludes a pupil only during lunchtime and counts as half a school day. 

If your child has been excluded, you will receive a letter straightaway. This must include:

  • the start and end date of the suspension or whether it is a permanent exclusion
  • the reason for the suspension or permanent exclusion
  • education arrangements for the sixth day (if the suspension is for more than five school days or is a permanent exclusion)
  • your right to make representation to the school's governing board

Returning from suspension

If your child is returning from a suspension, a reintegration meeting will be arranged to discuss further support and interventions.

If a suitable time or date cannot be agreed, this will not stop the child returning to school upon completion of the suspension.

If your child has been permanently excluded

Permanent exclusion is a last resort when either:

  • all other alternatives have been exhausted
  • there as been a serious one-off incident

The school's governing board must convene a meeting within 15 school days from the first day of exclusion. The governing board can either uphold the headteacher's decision or agree to reinstate a pupil.

Further information

Email our exclusion team:

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