Exclusion hearings: procedures

Requirements to conduct a hearing

Governing boards have a duty to consider a headteacher’s decision to exclude a pupil. 

Your board must convene a panel to consider the exclusion (an exclusion hearing) for:

• Any permanent exclusion
• Any suspension (fixed-term exclusion) which brings the pupil’s total days excluded to more than 15 in a term
• Any exclusion that will result in that pupil missing a public exam or a national curriculum test
• Any suspension (fixed-term exclusion) that will take the pupil’s total days excluded above 5 for the term and the parents have requested a review panel

Where a panel is required, the selected governors should meet to review the headteacher’s decision. They have the power to do one of 2 things:

• Uphold the headteacher’s decision to exclude
• Reinstate the pupil

This information is outlined on page 47 of the DfE's statutory guidance on exclusions. 

Know who must, and may attend

The following people must be invited to the meeting