The Timpson review of school exclusion and the government's response: summary

Last reviewed on 4 June 2019
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 37695

The Timpson review has set out several recommendations to reform exclusion practice. Get up to speed on the government's response and what changes you can expect as a result of the review

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Contents

  1. What it is
  2. What the government has promised
  3. More key points from the Timpson Review

What it is

In March 2018 the government commissioned a review of school exclusion to:

  • Study current exclusion practice
  • Understand why some groups of pupils are more likely to be excluded

The results were published on 7 May 2019 and included 30 recommendations "that seek to ensure that exclusion is used consistently and appropriately, and that enable our school system to create the best possible conditions for every child to thrive and progress."

If you want to read the full report, you can find it here. We summarise the key outcomes below.

The report doesn't seek to ban exclusion. 

Exclusion, both fixed period and permanent, is a necessary sanction and this review has seen evidence of it being used effectively. I do not believe government should be prescriptive about all of the circumstances in which it should, or should not, be used. Head teachers should be able to

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