What is an exclusion from school?
An exclusion means that your child is not allowed to attend school, for a period of time.
There are 2 types of exclusion:
1) Fixed Period Exclusion – where a pupil is not allowed to attend school for a fixed number of days or lunchtimes.
A pupil cannot receive more than 45 days fixed term exclusion in a school year.
Lunchtime Exclusions – are counted as fixed term exclusions (lunchtime = ½ day). A pupil given a lunchtime exclusion should leave the school premises for the duration of the lunchtime and return for the afternoon session.
If, as part of a planned programme, the parent/carer agrees that their child should not stay at school during lunch-time then this will not count as an exclusion.
2) Permanent Exclusion – where the school does not wish the pupil to return to that school again and should only be used as a last resort.
Only the head teacher can exclude a pupil (or the next most senior teacher in school, if the head teacher is away).
The head teacher can only exclude a pupil if s/he believes that what the pupil has done is:
– A serious breach or persistent breaches of the schools behaviour policy
AND
– where allowing the pupil to remain in school would seriously harm the education or welfare of the pupil or others in the school.