Governors' suspensions and exclusions panels: purpose and membership

Learn when a suspensions or exclusions panel is required, the timelines for considering different types of suspension or exclusion, and who can make up the membership.

Last reviewed on 2 August 2023
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School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 4153
Contents
  1. Purpose and timelines
  2. Membership

Use the previous guidance for pupils suspended before 1 September 2023

The new guidance only applies to suspensions and exclusions which take place on or after 1 September 2023. If you have ongoing cases, make sure you follow the guidance that was in place when the suspension or exclusion process started.

However, your headteacher should inform parents/carers of their new right to request a remote panel hearing on 1 September, or as soon as possible afterwards (see paragraph 254 of the September 2023 guidance, which makes provision for ongoing cases to use remote panels).

Download the 2022 guidance here:

This article is based on the Department for Education’s (DfE's) statutory guidance on suspension and permanent exclusion (September 2023), and advice from governance experts Vicky Redding and Keith Clover.

When a pupil is suspended (previously known as a 'fixed-term exclusion') or permanently excluded, your governing board has a duty to consider parents’