Section One - Exclusion Policy
SECTION ONE - EXCLUSION POLICY
Rationale
This policy deals with the policy and practice which informs the School's use of exclusion. It is underpinned by the shared commitment of all members of the School community to achieve two important aims:
1) The first is to ensure the safety and well-being of all members of the School
community, and to maintain an appropriate educational environment in which
all can learn and succeed;
2) The second is to realise the aim of reducing the need to use exclusion as a sanction.
Introduction
The decision to exclude a pupil will be taken in the following circumstances:-
(a) In response to a serious breach of the School's Pupil Behaviour Policy;
(b) If allowing the student to remain in School would seriously harm the education
or welfare of the student or others in the School.
Exclusion is an extreme sanction and is only administered by the Head Teacher (or, in the absence of the Head, the Deputy Head who is acting in that role).
Exclusion, whether fixed term or permanent may be used for any of the following, all of which constitute examples of unacceptable conduct, and are infringements of the School's Pupil Behaviour Policy:
• Actions which put the pupil or others in danger.
• Verbal abuse to Staff and others
• Verbal abuse to students
• Physical abuse to/attack on Staff
• Physical abuse to/attack on students
• Indecent behaviour
• Damage to property
• Misuse of illegal drugs
• Misuse of other substances
• Theft
• Serious actual or threatened violence against another student or a member of staff.
• Sexual abuse or assault.
• Supplying an illegal drug.
• Carrying an offensive weapon.
• Arson.
• Unacceptable behaviour which has previously been reported and for which School sanctions and other interventions have not been successful in modifying the student's behaviour.
This is not an exhaustive list and there may be other situations where the Head
Teacher makes the judgment that exclusion is an appropriate sanction.
Exclusion procedure
• Most exclusions are of a fixed term nature and are of short duration (usually
between one and three days).
• The DfES regulations allow the Head teacher to exclude a pupil for one or more fixed periods not exceeding 45 school days in any one school year.
• The Management Team have established arrangements to review promptly all permanent exclusions the School and all fixed term exclusions that would lead to a pupil being excluded for over 15 days in a school term or missing a public examination.
• The Management Team have established arrangements to review fixed term exclusions which would lead to a pupil being excluded for over five days but not over 15 days in a school term where a parent has expressed a wish to make representations.
• Following exclusion parents are contacted immediately where possible. A meeting will be called or a letter sent by post giving details of the exclusion and the date the exclusion ends. Parents have a right to make representations to the Head Teacher and Management Committee.
• It is School practice to place the pupil on report usually for one week to monitor behaviour and work. If the fixed term exclusion is greater than five days or an accumulation of exclusions exceed five days, a Pastoral Support Plan will be drawn up. This needs to be agreed with the School, student and parents.
• A fixed term exclusion may take the form of an "internal" exclusion, with the pupil being isolated to work alone. However, in some circumstances, either because of the severity of the incident or because of practical or logistical constraints, such an exclusion will result in the pupil being required to remain at home.
• During the course of a fixed term exclusion where the pupil is to be at home, parents are advised that the student is not allowed on the School premises, and that daytime supervision is their responsibility, as parents/guardians.
Permanent Exclusion
The decision to exclude a pupil permanently is a serious one. There are two main types of situation in which permanent exclusion may be considered.
1. The first is a final, formal step in a concerted process for dealing with
disciplinary offences following the use of a wide range of other
strategies, which have been used without success.
It is an acknowledgement that all available strategies have been exhausted and is used as a last resort. This would include persistent and defiant misbehaviour including bullying (which would include racist or homophobic bullying) or repeated possession and or use of an illegal drug on School premises.
2. The second is where there are exceptional circumstances and it is not appropriate to implement other strategies and where it could be appropriate to permanently exclude a student for a first or 'one off’ offence. These might 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 *.
• Arson.
•
The School will consider police involvement for any of the above offences.
* Offensive weapons are defined in the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 as "any article made or adapted for causing injury to the person; or intended by the person having it with him for such use by him."
These instances are not exhaustive but indicate the severity of such offences and the fact that such behaviour seriously affects the discipline and well being of the School.
General factors the School considers before making a decision to exclude:
The Head Teacher broadly considers the following procedure.
1) First warning – inform parents / guardian via contact book.
2) Second warning – call parents / guardians to a meeting.
3) Third warning – contact parents – impose 1 day (or part) exclusion.
4) Fourth warning – contact parents - meeting with parents, 4 day exclusion.
5) Fifth warning – contact parents - meeting with parents and management meeting to discuss expulsion.
Depending on the severity of the offence, the procedure will begin at the appropriate point. The right of appeal is generally given from point 4.
• Exclusion will not be imposed instantly unless there is an immediate threat to the safety of others in the School or the pupil concerned. Before deciding whether to exclude a student either permanently or for a fixed period the Head will:
• Ensure appropriate investigations have been carried out.
• Consider all the evidence available to support the allegations taking into account the Pupil Behaviour, Equal Opportunities and Race Equality
Policies.
• Allow the student to give her/his version of events.
• Check whether the incident may have been provoked for example by bullying or by racial or sexual harassment.
If the Head is satisfied that on the balance of probabilities the pupil did what he or she is alleged to have done, exclusion will be the outcome.
Exercise of discretion
In reaching a decision on temporary or permanent exclusion, the Head will always look at each case on its own merits. Therefore, a tariff system, fixing a standard penalty for a particular action, is both unfair and inappropriate.
In considering whether permanent exclusion is the most appropriate sanction, the Head will consider a) the gravity of the incident, or series of incidents, and whether it constitutes a serious breach of the Pupil's Behaviour Policy and b) the effect that the student remaining in the School would have on the education and welfare of other students and staff. Nonetheless, in the case of a pupil found in possession of an offensive weapon, whether there is an intention to use it or not, it is the School's usual policy in this particularly serious matter to issue a permanent exclusion and possibly involve the Police..
In line with its statutory duty, these same two tests of appropriateness will form the basis of the deliberations of the Management Team when it meets to consider the Head teacher's decision to exclude. This Committee will require the Head teacher to explain the reasons for the decision and will look at appropriate evidence, such as the student's School record, witness statements and the strategies used by the School to support the student prior to exclusion.
Alternatives to Exclusion
Alternative strategies to exclusion are always used if possible However, the threat of a permanent exclusion will never be used as the means to coerce parents to move their child to another school.
Lunchtime Exclusion
Pupils whose behaviour at lunchtime is disruptive may be excluded from the School premises for the duration of the lunchtime period. This will be treated as fixed term exclusion and parents will have the same right to gain information and to appeal.
Behaviour Outside School
Pupils' behaviour outside School on school "business" for example school trips and journeys, travelling to and from school, away school sports fixtures or a work experience placement is subject to the Student Behaviour Policy. Bad behaviour in these circumstances will be dealt with as if it had taken place in School. For behaviour outside School but not on school business this policy will still have effect if there is a clear link between that behaviour and maintaining good behaviour and discipline among the student body as a whole. If pupils' behaviour in the immediate vicinity of the School or on a journey to and from school is poor and meets the School criteria for exclusion then the Head may decide to exclude.
Drug Related Exclusions
In making a decision on whether or not to exclude for a drug-related offence the Head Teacher will have regard to the School's published policy on drugs and will also seek advice from the LEA's Drugs Education Advisor. The decision will depend on the precise circumstances of the case and the evidence available. In some cases fixed term exclusion will be more appropriate than permanent exclusion. The Head will make a judgment set against the criteria in the school's Drugs Policy.
Updated – June 2008
Review on or before June 2009
Updated – June 2009
Review – June 2010