Governors' suspensions and exclusions panels: using evidence

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

Last reviewed on 19 October 2022
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School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 5839
Contents
  1. Collecting and circulating evidence
  2. Common forms of written evidence
  3. Using CCTV footage
  4. Using social media
  5. Using covert recordings

Collecting and circulating evidence

The clerk will request written evidence related to the suspension or 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 suspensions and exclusions guidance (September 2022) (see page 40).

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 a 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