London Borough of Croydon

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Permanent exclusion from school

If your child is involved in a very serious incident or a series of serious incidents they may be permanently excluded from school. This means they are not allowed to return to that school.  We understand that this may be a very upsetting time for you and your family and we hope the following information will help you to consider what to do next.

You will be informed in writing of the decision to permanently exclude your child within one working day of the decision being made, but normally you will have been informed by telephone immediately.

The decision to permanently exclude can only be made by the headteacher (or deputy in the head's absence) after a thorough investigation and consideration of alternatives. The decision to permanently exclude may therefore be taken several days after the incident and after a fixed term exclusion has already been imposed.

The letter will include details of arrangements that have been made to set and mark work for your child. It will also include the name and address of the clerk of the school governing body's discipline committee, to whom you can make representation.

The discipline committee must meet between six and 15 school days after the permanent exclusion. You will be invited to that meeting and if you choose to attend you can take a friend or adviser with you. Your child may also go with you. At the meeting you can put your case against the head's decision to exclude. You may also send written evidence to be considered by the committee.

What happens if the discipline committee overturns the head's decision?

The clerk will advise you of the committee's decision within one working day. A date will be set for your child to return to school. You should be invited to a reintegration meeting on the first day back to discuss your child’s reintegrated and what support strategies are available. The meeting may well draw up a pastoral support programme that will contain details of the support everyone involved in the meeting will provide to your child.

What happens if the discipline committee upholds the head's decision?

The clerk will advise you within one working day. The letter will contain details of your rights of appeal to an independent appeal panel. This will be followed up by a letter from the LEA which will also contain details of how to appeal. You will also be offered an advice interview at your local pupil referral unit.

What happens if I decide not to appeal?

As soon as you inform the exclusion officer in writing of your decision not to appeal your child will be referred to Victoria House PRU (primary age) or the PRU placement panel (secondary age). A suitable full time educational placement will be identified as quickly as possible. Once your child has settled in, their needs will be assessed and the teachers will arrange reviews to discuss appropriate support and progression.

What is a pupil referral unit?

A pupil referral unit (PRU) is a temporary education provision. In many ways it is like a school but it is much smaller and is subject to different legislative rules. Croydon has a number of different PRUs, all of which are subject to Ofsted and LEA inspections. Croydon also has provision for excluded pupils in the voluntary sector. Provision for excluded pupils is usually full time. In addition to the core curriculum, the PRUs offer a range of additional activities. If your child is in an examination year (year 2, 6, 9 or 11) they will be able to take their exams at the PRU. The PRUs benefit from extremely generous pupil:teacher ratios, and most teaching will be in groups of eight or less.  Croydon's PRUs work closely with parents and carers to ensure that a child's needs are identified and appropriate progression is determined. PRU placements are temporary except in year 11.
When your child is referred to a PRU a brochure will be sent to you. You can also request a copy of the PRU’s latest Ofsted Report.

What happens if I decide to appeal further?

You will need to inform the Democratic service division within 17 days (the contact details will be included in the letters mentioned above). Your child remains on the roll of the school but cannot attend. The school will continue to set and mark work and home tuition will be provided by your local PRU to support your child in completing the work.

What happens if the Independent Appeal Panel overturns the head's decision to permanently exclude?

The panel may say that the child must return to school. The clerk will advise you of the panel's decision within two working days. A date will be set for your child to return to school. You should be invited to a reintegration meeting on the first day back to discuss how your child is to be reintegrated and ways to avoid further exclusions. The meeting may well draw up a pastoral support programme which will contain details of the support all the people involved in the meeting will provide to your child.

What happens if the independent appeal panel upholds the head's decision to permanently exclude?

The clerk will advise you of the Panel's decision within two working days. Your child will be referred to Victoria House PRU (primary age) or the PRU placement panel (secondary age). A suitable full time educational placement will be allocated as quickly as possible. Once your child has settled in his/her needs will be assessed and the teachers will arrange regular reviews to discuss appropriate support and progression.

What if your child will miss an exam?

The discipline committee must meet to review the exclusion, preferably before the exam takes place.

Useful sources of advice and support

You should contact your child's school in the first instance. You could contact your child's teacher or year head to discuss the reasons for your child's exclusion. They will also be able to offer advice about keeping up their studies during the exclusion. The headteacher can also be contacted if you are unhappy about the information you have received.

Contact Details

Contact name
Exclusion Helpline
Telephone
020 8760 5540
Contact name
Connexions Helpline (Pupils in years 9-11)
Telephone
0800 51 11 11
Contact name
Colin Herrick
Job title
Interim inclusion strategy manager
Telephone
020 8726 7783 Ext 15448
Email
colin.herrick@croydon.gov.uk
Contact name
Advisory Centre for Education Exclusion Helpline
Telephone
020 7704 9822
Contact name
Paul Brightly-Jones
Job title
Prinicipal Officer, Exclusions and Reintegration
Telephone
020 8726 7438
Email
paul.brightly-jones@croydon.gov.uk
Address
Children, Young People and Learners
East Side 7th Floor
Leon House
Croydon

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