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Exclusion Information

Fixed and Permanent Exclusions

Rhondda Cynon Taf Access and Inclusion Service offer advice and information to parents, children and young people on all aspects of school exclusions.

Exclusion is the most extreme option that is available to a head teacher when responding to unacceptable pupil behaviour. It involves a pupil being kept away from the school for either a fixed period or permanently.

An exclusion can only be made by:

  • The head teacher of a maintained school
  • The teacher in charge of a pupil referral unit (PRU)
  • A  person acting in either of the above roles.

An exclusion is not suitable for minor breaches of school rules, such as:

  • failure to complete homework
  • lateness or truancy
  • Breaches of school uniform rules.

In addition to this, a child cannot be excluded because of poor academic performance.

Fixed Term Exclusion

A pupil may be excluded for one or more fixed periods (up to a maximum of 45 school days in a single academic year), or permanently (the child is removed from the school roll).

A fixed period exclusion does not have to be for a continuous period. This might apply where the child attends off-site provision for part of the week, or where a child has been excluded for lunchtimes only. In exceptional cases, usually where further evidence has come to light, a fixed period exclusion may be extended or converted to a permanent exclusion.

When and why can a head teacher exclude a pupil?

The head teacher’s decision to exclude a pupil can be for:

  • persistent breaches of the school's behaviour policy, when other strategies or sanctions have been exhausted or deemed inappropriate in the circumstances
  • a more serious one-off incident. 

Schools vary in the types of behaviour that they feel warrant exclusion. However, in general, incidents will fall into one of the following categories:

  • physical assault against pupil
  • physical assault against adult
  • verbal abuse/threatening behaviour against pupil
  • verbal abuse/threatening behaviour against adult
  • bullying
  • racist abuse
  • sexual misconduct
  • drug and alcohol related
  • damage
  • theft
  • persistent disruptive behaviour.

The behaviour of pupils outside school can be a reason for exclusion.

Schools are required by law to have a behaviour policy. Parents, who may be doubtful about a decision to exclude their child, may find that it would be useful to check that the school is applying its own behaviour policy.

If your child is excluded, the head teacher must tell you immediately. They must do this by phone, and send a letter on the same they phone.

Permanent Exclusion

In exceptional circumstances a child or young person may be excluded from school permanently.

Before deciding whether to exclude any pupil, the head teacher should;

  • make  sure that an appropriate investigation has been carried out
  • consider all the evidence available, taking into account the school's behaviour and equal opportunities policies and, if applicable, the Equality Act 2010
  • talk to the pupil to hear his/her version of events
  • check whether the incident may have been provoked, for example by bullying or by racial or sexual harassment
  • if necessary consult others - but not anyone who may later have a role in reviewing the head teacher's decision, such as a member of the governors' discipline committee.

A child can only be excluded after the head teacher has taken the steps above, and is satisfied that the pupil did what he or she was accused of.

If the head teacher decides to permanently exclude a child the school's governing body discipline committee must meet to consider the exclusion.

School governing bodies have a legal duty to do their best to make sure that the necessary educational provision is made for any pupil who has special educational needs.

Unless there are exceptional circumstances, schools should not permanently exclude pupils with special educational needs, whether they have a statement of special educational needs or not.

If it seems likely that a pupil with special educational needs is in danger of being excluded, the school should examine the support in place and do everything possible to keep the pupil in school, such as:

  • seeking advice from the local authority and other professional advice and support
  • arranging an early annual review if the child has a statement of special educational needs.

Process for excluding children and young people

Whenever a head teacher excludes a pupil, parents must be notified by letter within one school day. The school must also notify its governing body and the local authority within one school day of the exclusion. The letter you get should state that the exclusion is fixed or permanent and should include specific information, such as:

  • the date the exclusion takes effect and any relevant previous history
  • the reasons for the exclusion
  • the arrangements made for your child's education to continue
  • the latest date on which the governing body discipline committee can meet to consider the exclusion (no later than 15 school days from the date when the governing body was notified of the exclusion)
  • an explanation that you have the right to see/have a copy of your child's school record upon written request, and the right to state your case in writing to the governing body, or by attending the meeting where the  exclusion is to be considered

Educational provision during the period of exclusions

Arrangements should be made for your child to continue his or her education, including setting and marking school work. Government guidance (Welsh Government) states that ‘normally' the school and local authority are responsible for ensuring full-time and appropriate education is provided from the sixteenth day of an exclusion exceeding 15 days. It is your responsibility as a parent/carer to make sure that work sent home is completed and returned to school.

Informal exclusion

Some schools ask parents to take a pupil home or to keep the pupil at home without officially excluding. Parents may have the impression that the school is being compassionate by not adding an exclusion to the pupil's school record. However, this practice can result in pupils losing out on their education and parents losing their right to make representations in writing to the governors or in person at a meeting to consider the decision.

‘Informal' or ‘unofficial' exclusions, such as sending pupils home ‘to cool off', are unlawful, even if the parents have agreed to it. Any exclusion of a pupil, even for short periods of time, must be formally recorded and follow the correct procedure. Exclusion for an indefinite period of time is also unlawful.

Here are some suggested questions that you could ask the head teacher of the school, when your child has been excluded:

1. What is the nature of the allegation against my child?


2. What is the evidence you have obtained that supports this allegation?


3. Which rule in the school behavioural policy has been breached?


4. Who made this decision to exclude my child?


5. What does my child understand by what has happened? Is there anything that I need to explain to him or her?


6. Can you provide me with a copy of my child's educational record?


7. Could you provide me with details of the education that should be provided to my child during this time he or she is not in school?


8. When will the Governing Body Meeting take place?


9. I understand that, as per the guidance, I can bring my child to this meeting, in order that his or her views can be put across?


10. I understand that, as per the Guidance, my child and I can prepare a statement for this meeting?


11. Is there someone who can support me and my child?