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 9 September 2022
See updates
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 4153
Contents
  1. Purpose and timelines
  2. Membership

Use the previous guidance for pupils suspended or excluded before 1 September 2022

If you have ongoing cases, make sure you follow the policy that was in place when the suspension or exclusion process started. The new guidance only applies to suspensions and exclusions which take place on or after 1 September 2022. If you don't have an exclusions policy, contact the DfE to get a copy of the archived guidance.

 

This article is based on the Department for Education’s (DfE's) statutory guidance on suspension and permanent exclusion (September 2022), and advice from governance experts Vicky Redding and Keith Clover.

Purpose and timelines

Your governing board will usually delegate that responsibility to a committee which we'll refer to here as an 'exclusions panel'. It may have a different name, such as a