New statutory guidance is in force from 1st September 2023.
Use the previous guidance for pupils suspended or excluded 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:
Suspensions and exclusions guidance 2022
Suspensions and permanent exclusions
Only headteachers or acting headteachers can decide to suspend or exclude a pupil. In all cases, the decision must be lawful, rational, reasonable, fair and proportionate.
Suspensions are temporary. A pupil can be suspended for 1 or more