Permanent exclusions

Permanent exclusions are a very serious matter. Only a school’s headteacher can permanently exclude a pupil (or a named deputy if the headteacher is out of school).

A headteacher may decide to permanently exclude a pupil only when they are sure that:

The pupil has seriously breached the school’s discipline policy
If the pupil remains in school, it would seriously harm the education or welfare of the pupil or others in the school.

Parent Partnership

If you child has been excluded from school or is at risk of exclusion, advice is available from Wolverhampton's Parent Partnership.

Frequently asked questions

If my child is at risk of permanent exclusion, what happens?

In Wolverhampton, a school should refer your child to the Social Inclusion Pupil Support Team (SIPS) if they feel that your child is at risk of permanent exclusion. A Social Inclusion Pupil Support Team teacher or worker will contact you. They will work with the school and yourself to try to prevent your child from being permanently excluded. Social Inclusion Pupil Support Team staff will work in multi-disciplinary teams with education welfare officers and educational psychologists. Sometimes they will be your main contact.

The school can draw up a plan to outline ways of helping your child. This plan will be agreed with you and may set targets for the pupil, parents / carers, school and other support groups.

Can my child be permanently excluded for a serious first incident?

Not normally. Permanent exclusion should not normally be used for a first serious incident unless the headteacher feels that they must take action immediately to protect the pupils and staff in the school. Even then they must take time to consider the matter carefully and use permanent exclusion as a last resort.

What if my child has emotional and behavioural difficulties, or a learning difficulty that affects their behaviour at school?

The school should ask the Local Education Authority to review the statement if your child is at risk of permanent exclusion. You would be invited to the review meeting. At the review meeting, other ways of dealing with your child’s behaviour can be discussed to try to avoid permanent exclusion.

The school should have discussed this with you and drawn up a plan to help. If your child has behavioural difficulties this should include when and how the exclusion will be used. They should also have discussed referring your child to the area team if his or her behaviour becomes a serious concern.

How am I told that my child has been permanently excluded?

Once the headteacher has decided to permanently exclude your child, they should contact you immediately to explain their decision. They should telephone you if possible on the day and the exclusion would normally begin the following day.

The headteacher should then write a letter to you within one school day that gives:

the reason for your child’s permanent exclusion
the steps taken to avoid permanent exclusion
the date that the permanent exclusion begins
arrangements for your child to have school work to do at home
your right to see a copy of your child’s school record
your right to give your views on your child’s permanent exclusion at a meeting with school governors on the Discipline Committee
a final date for you to send any written statements to the Discipline Committee before the meeting
the phone number of someone in the Local Education Authority who can advise you and the phone number of the National Advisory Centre for Education

What if I disagree with my child’s permanent exclusion?

You can put your views in writing and in person to school governors at a meeting of their discipline committee. The clerk to the Discipline Committee will write to you to give you the date and time of the meeting.

What is the Discipline Committee?

The Discipline Committee is made up of three to five of the school’s governors. They follow guidance from the government and the Local Education Authority to decide whether exclusion is being carried out correctly in the school.

What happens at the Discipline Committee meeting?

The Governors will consider the views of the school, you and your child and the Local Education Authority. The governors can decide to uphold your child’s permanent exclusion or allow your child to return to school.

If the Governors uphold the permanent exclusion, is there anything else I can do to return my child to school?

You can appeal to the Independent Appeal Panel.

What if my child has a statement for Special Educational Needs?

The school may present evidence about your child’s educational ability, behaviour and social background as well as the facts surrounding the incident which led to the permanent exclusion. The Local Education Authority will give its view and say whether it feels that permanent exclusion is appropriate or not. You will receive copies of this information in advance of the hearing.

Further information

For further about pupil exclusions from school, contact:

Children and Families - Soical Inclusion

Wolverhampton City Council

Jennie Lee Centre

Lichfield Road

Wednesfield

Wolverhampton

WV11 3HT

Phone: 01902 556948

Fax: 01902 555290