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Searching pupils and confiscation

The DfE's guidance on searching pupils and confiscation places a strong emphasis on safeguarding. Understand the rules on when you can search pupils and how to keep them safe during and after the process.

Last reviewed on 13 February 2025See updates
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 3747
Contents
  1. Prioritise safeguarding 
  2. Who can carry out a search and when
  3. What you can search for
  4. How to carry out a search
  5. How to record searches
  6. What you can confiscate
  7. Searching and confiscating electronic devices
  8. You can require pupils to be screened

Prioritise safeguarding 

All your staff have a duty to consider the best interests of pupils in your school. This is covered in paragraph 2 of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE). This includes both the pupil you're considering searching, and all the other pupils.

Pupils also have a right to expect a reasonable level of personal privacy, under Article 8 of the Human Rights Act 1998. Any 'interference' with this right by your school must be justified and proportionate.

The need to safeguard all pupils by confiscating harmful, illegal, or disruptive items, and  The safeguarding needs, rights and wellbeing of the pupil suspected of possessing these items, including the potential: Loss of privacy when clothes, bags or possessions are searched Loss of a sense of security, if they feel they are being monitored and/or searched without reason Impact on their dignity or reputation if