Exclusion
from school in Northumberland
Children and young people who attend schools
in Northumberland can be excluded (or
expelled) from school in response to breaches of
the school's behaviour policy. Exclusions can be
either permanent exclusions (where, subject to
certain review and appeal procedures, the pupil is not expected to
resume attendance at the school) or fixed period
(temporary) exclusions (also
sometimes referred to as suspensions), where the
exclusion is for a specified number of days and the pupil will
return to school at the end of the exclusion period.
Exclusion is one of a range of strategies for
managing behaviour in schools and all schools must have policies
(behaviour or discipline policies) in place to
promote good and discourage poor behaviour. Pupils, parents and
school staff should all be aware of these policies, the standards
of expected behaviour they set out and the sanctions and support
mechanisms which will be used if these standards are not met.
Permanent
exclusion
Permanent exclusion from school is a very
serious event in a young person's life and so the decision to
exclude permanently is always a very serious one for a headteacher.
In many cases, it is a 'last resort' after a range of other
disciplinary strategies have been used with the pupil
concerned.
In exceptional circumstances, headteachers can
permanently exclude for a first or 'one-off' offence. These
circumstances are outlined in guidance from the Department for
Children, Schools and Families and may include:
- Serious actual or threatened violence against
another pupil or a member of staff
- Sexual abuse or assault
- Supplying an illegal drug
- Carrying an offensive weapon.
Procedures following a permanent exclusion
During the first five school days of a
permanent exclusion the school/PRU (Pupil Referral Unit) should
send work home for the pupil to complete. During these initial five
school days of exclusion parents must ensure that their child is
not present in a public place during school hours without
reasonable justification: if they do not, they could be
subject to a fixed penalty fine.
From the sixth school day of a permanent
exclusion, the Local Authority (Northumberland County Council) is
statutorily responsible for ensuring that suitable full-time
education is provided to pupils of compulsory school age.
Unofficial exclusion
If a pupil is sent home from school for
reasons related to a breach of the school's behaviour policy, then
they should be formally excluded (either on a fixed term basis, or
permanently). There is no basis in law for sending a pupil home, in
these circumstances, other than through formal exclusion. This
means that:
- Parents should be formally notified of the
exclusion, in writing
- Child protection issues are taken into
consideration e.g. depending on the age/vulnerability of the child;
they should not be placed at risk by, for example being left to
wander the streets
- Work is sent home or alternative provision is
arranged.
Fixed period exclusions
The school must continue to provide education
during periods of fixed period of exclusion and parents are
expected to cooperate with schools in the arrangements that are
made for this. Pupils can be excluded on a fixed term basis for up
to 45 days in any academic year.
Procedures following a fixed period exclusion
During the first five school days of a
permanent exclusion the school/PRU should send work home for the
pupil to complete. During these initial five school days of
exclusion parents must ensure that their child is not present in a
public place during school hours without reasonable
justification: if they do not, they could be subject to a
fixed penalty fine.
Where a pupil is given a fixed term exclusion
for a duration of six days or longer, the school has a duty to
arrange suitable full-time educational provision from and including
the sixth school day of the exclusion: this does not apply to
pupils of non compulsory school age.
The exclusion procedure operated by
Northumberland County Council is based on guidance issued by the
Department for Children, Schools and Families, 'Improving Behaviour
and Attendance: Guidance on Exclusion from Schools and Pupil
Referral Units'. This guidance can be found, in full, at the
teachernet website. Click
here to access the teachernet site.
For more information and the answers to
frequently asked questions (see below) please consult the attached
document.
For independent advice on the exclusion
process, please contact the Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) on
0808 800 0327 or click here for the ACE website
