Governors' exclusions panel: using evidence

Last reviewed on 10 September 2021
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 5839

The governors' exclusions panel will use various forms of evidence to establish the facts in relation to an exclusion. Learn all about the types of evidence you can expect to see and how they're used in considering exclusions.

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Contents

  1. Collecting and circulating evidence
  2. Common forms of written evidence
  3. Using CCTV footage
  4. Using social media

Collecting and circulating evidence

The clerk will request written evidence related to the exclusion from the school and from the pupil’s parents. Evidence should be collected in advance and circulated at least 5 days before the meeting, if possible.

This is set out in the statutory exclusions guidance (see page 19).

As a general rule, either the headteacher or the pastoral head is responsible for submitting the school's evidence. It's not the clerk’s role to decide what evidence the panel should review. Our expert Trevor Bailey explained this, and also gave us the advice in the next section.

What should be submitted as evidence

The type of evidence required in an exclusion hearing depends on the case. Where one type of evidence might be directly relevant in one case, it might be irrelevant in another.

If a pupil has committed a very serious breach of the

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