If behaviour support and intervention fail, or there is a serious ‘one-off’ incident, a headteacher may need to permanently exclude. This should only be considered when all other avenues have been explored. A Pastoral Support Programme (PSP) may be used to support children at risk of permanent exclusion – this is a time-limited plan with targets, rewards, and sanctions, reviewed at intervals. The school may invite all agencies involved with the pupil to the meeting along with the parents and the pupil.

A Managed Move is a move to another school to enable the pupil to have a fresh start in a new school. The headteacher may ask another headteacher to admit the pupil. This should only be done with the full knowledge and co-operation of all parties involved, including the parents, governors, and the Exclusions & Reintegration Team.

We would recommend that you consult the Exclusions & Reintegration Team for advice before making a decision to issue a permanent exclusion.

Headteacher decides to exclude permanently

1. Contact Exclusions & Reintegration Team on 01296 382835
2. Headteacher to inform parents by telephone or face-to-face
3. Inform parents in writing by the end of the afternoon session of the day the exclusion occurs
4. Arrange for work to be set for the excluded pupil for days 1 - 5
5. The LA will provide education from the sixth day of a permanent exclusion
6. Send completed Form X1 and a copy of the exclusion letter to the Exclusions & Reintegration Team via exclusions@buckinghamshire.gov.uk – on the day of the PX

A Governing Board Committee meeting is convened no later than 15 school days from notice of exclusion to consider whether to offer reinstatement:

1. LA representative invited (liaise over date and time) in the case of a maintained school or PRU. A parent may invite a representative of the LA to attend a meeting of an Academy’s Governing Board as an observer; that representative may only make representations with the Governing Board’s consent.
2. Clerk to Chair of Governing Board Committee (or the school on their behalf) invites parents to the meeting. Governors are responsible for ensuring that this invitation is sent so they should make sure that they know who is sending it.

At the meeting, the Governing Board Committee considers representations made and decides whether or not to offer reinstatement:

1. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Governors reach their decision and the Clerk sends the outcome letter to the parents. Copy of letter sent to the Exclusions & Reintegration Team, without delay.

Exclusions & Reintegration Team respond to actions of Governing Board:

1. If reinstatement is not offered, the E&R Team writes to parents advising them of how to request an Independent Review - copy to Headteacher and Chair of Governing Board

If the Governing Board does not offer reinstatement, parents may appeal to an Independent Review Panel. The request for this must be received within 15 school days of the parent receiving notification from the Governing Board of their decision not to offer reinstatement. Where the notice is sent by first class post, it is treated as having been given on the second working day after it was posted.

The Independent Review Panel can:       

1. uphold the Governing Board’s decision;
2. recommend that the Governing Board reconsiders reinstatement; or
3. quash the decision and direct that the Governing Board reconsiders reinstatement.

If the IRP upholds the Governors' decision not to offer reinstatement, the pupil remains permanently excluded:

1. If the Independent Review Panel recommends that the Governing Board reconsiders its decision not to offer reinstatement, the Governors must reconvene to review their decision within 10 school days of being given notice of the panel’s decision.
2. It is not necessary to repeat the whole meeting, but the Governors should conscientiously reconsider whether the pupil should be reinstated.
3. They can decide to offer reinstatement or confirm their previous decision not to offer reinstatement; however, the Governing Board may face challenges in the courts if it refuses to reinstate the pupil, without strong justification.
4. If the Independent Review Panel quashes the decision of the Governing Board Meeting and directs that the Governing Board reconsiders reinstatement, the Governors must reconvene to review their decision within 10 school days of being given notice of the panel’s decision.
5. It is not necessary to repeat the whole meeting, but the Governors should conscientiously reconsider whether the pupil should be reinstated.
6. They can decide to offer reinstatement or confirm their previous decision not to offer reinstatement however the governing board may face challenges in the courts if it refuses to reinstate the pupil, without strong justification.
7. Following a direction to reconsider, unless, within ten school days of receiving notice of the panel’s decision the governing board decides to reinstate the pupil, an adjustment may be made to the school’s budget in the sum of £4,000 if the panel has ordered this. In the case of an academy, the school would be required to make an equivalent payment directly to the local authority in which the school is located. This payment will be in addition to any funding that would normally follow an excluded pupil.