Last reviewed on 6 September 2022
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 38438

Be clear on what your suspension and permanent exclusion policy should do and the questions to ask when reviewing it. Use our model policy to see what good looks like.

We've updated our model policy to reflect the new guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) on suspensions and permanent exclusions which came into force on 1 September 2022.

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

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

What this policy needs to do

Your policy must be in line with the Department for Education's (DfE) statutory guidance on suspensions and permanent exclusions. The things you will