School suspensions and permanent exclusions
Guidance on the suspension and permanent exclusion of pupils from local-authority-maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
This guidance details the legal responsibilities for those who suspend (fixed period exclusion) and permanently exclude pupils from educational settings, including:
- headteachers
- local authorities
- governing bodies
- academy trusts
- independent review panel members
- independent review panel clerks
- special educational needs experts
It governs the exclusion of pupils from:
- local-authority-maintained schools
- academies and free schools
- pupil referral units
Statutory guidance sets out what schools and local authorities must do to comply with the law.
A guide for parents and carers on school behaviour and exclusion is also available.
Updates to this page
Last updated 19 August 2024 + show all updates
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We have made technical changes to the statutory guidance to reflect new regulations on school attendance.
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The updated guidance on 'Suspension and permanent exclusion from maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units in England, including pupil movement' comes into effect from 1 September 2023.
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Added updated guidance on 'Suspension and permanent exclusion from maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units in England, including pupil movement'. This guidance comes into force from 1 September 2023.
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Removed 'Exclusion from maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units in England 2017' as it no longer applies. Replaced 'Suspension and permanent exclusion from maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units in England, including pupil movement' with a new version. Changes to this version include an update to paragraph 104 to make it clear that only suspensions have a time limit and that the governing board is not required to arrange a meeting with parents. We have also included a link in paragraph 75 to find details of local services.
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Added 'Suspension and permanent exclusion guidance 2022' and updated further resources.
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Removed guidance on changes to the school suspension and permanent exclusion process during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, as it has been withdrawn.
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Returning the number of days which must be allowed to raise an application for an independent review to 15 days.
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Updated, 'Changes to the school suspension and permanent exclusion process during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak', including the continuation of the use of remote access technology.
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Amended mentions of the word 'expulsion(s)' to 'permanent exclusion(s)'.
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Updated 'Changes to the school suspension and expulsion process during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak' to highlight the changes from 25 March 2021.
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Updated the guidance on changes to the school exclusion process during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak to highlight changes to the exclusions process from 25 September 2020.
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Updated the guidance on changes to the school exclusion process during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, including changes to the exclusions process from 25 September 2020, clarification on the conditions for virtual governing boards and review panels and procedural guidance on virtual meetings.
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Added guidance on changes to school exclusions during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
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Updated the exclusion review process and included non-statutory annexes for headteachers and parents. The changes are factual and aim to provide clarity. They do not change the rights of, or requirements on, schools, children or parents. For use from 1 September 2017.
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Added further clarification for anybody reviewing exclusion decisions taken between 5 January and 1 February 2015.
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The School Reform Minister Nick Gibb has removed the current guidance to address some issues with process and we will be issuing updated guidance in due course.
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Added the document 'Exclusion from maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units in England: from 5 January 2015'.
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First published.