Independent review panels: membership and procedures

Parents have the right to request a review of the governing board's decision not to reinstate a pupil after exclusion. The review is done by an independent review panel (IRP). Find out what to expect from the IRP and what the outcomes might be.

Last reviewed on 31 July 2023
See updates
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 4182
Contents
  1. Convening an IRP
  2. Membership and training
  3. Required notice to parties
  4. Parents have the right to request a SEN expert
  5. Circulation of documents
  6. Possible outcomes
  7. Written notification to parties about the decision

Use the previous guidance for pupils excluded before 1 September 2023

The new guidance only applies to 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 exclusion process started.

However, your board should inform parents/carers of their new right to request a remote IRP hearing on 1 September, or as soon as possible afterwards (see paragraph 256 of the September 2023 guidance, which makes provision for ongoing cases to use remote panels).

Download the 2022 guidance here:

Suspension and permanent exclusion guidance 2022 PDF, 544.5 KB

The information here can be found in parts 9, 10 and 11 of the statutory guidance on exclusions (from September 2023) published by the Department for Education (DfE). We've also taken advice from One Education.

The responsibility for arranging an independent review panel (IRP) meeting lies with the local authority (LA) for maintained schools and the academy trust for

Read next

Also in "Suspensions and exclusions"