School Exclusion Training

Supporting Governing Boards, Academy Trustees, Clerks, and Headteachers to be ready for statutory exclusion meetings.

Delivered by a local authority professional with hands-on experience advising and training school governors.

All training sessions are held live and online during weekday evenings, designed around current statutory exclusion guidance published by the Department for Education.

Department for Education guidance on school exclusions

Why this training matters.

For governors, whether to decline to reinstate a permanently excluded pupil is one of the most serious decisions you might ever make…and you will only have 15 school days in which to do so.

Being ready and confident with up to date and quality training can be the difference between an independent review panel upholding the governors’ decision or quashing it and directing them to reconsider which may result in a £4,000 school budget adjustment. It is essential governors know:

  • When there is a legal duty to consider reinstatement.

  • How to prepare and manage effective hearings involving parents, headteachers and pupils.

  • How to effectively apply statutory exclusion guidance to the evidence presented.

  • What to expect if presenting at independent review panels and the reconsideration process.

For headteachers, you will always hope permanent exclusion is an absolute last resort and a decision you never have to make.

No Headteacher wants to face going in front of their governors with any doubt about their decision to permanently exclude a pupil, or being challenged in a way which results in the board directing the pupil back to school - with or without additional decisions from an independent review panel along the way. Headteachers need to know:

  • Their decision to suspend or permanently exclude a pupil has been lawful, reasonable and fair.

  • Legal duties for notifying parents, governors, LA and multi-agency services of their decision.

  • What factors to consider before making a decision to exclude as set out in statutory guidance.

  • How to ensure the evidence for their decision is robust.

Browse the range of sessions below.

  • School-exclusions-training-for-School-Governors

    School exclusion training for School Governors: Universal (2 hours)

    This session will provide school governors, especially those with little or no experience of statutory guidance, with essential knowledge they need should they ever be legally required to consider a pupil’s exclusion. This session is for booking by individual governors across different schools - there is no expectation for the whole board from one school to join.

    £95 per Governor/Trustee

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  • School-exclusion-training-for-School-Governors

    School exclusion training for School Governors: Exclusive (2 hours)

    This session will cover in detail key duties for governors to consider for a pupil’s exclusion, in line with statutory guidance published by the Department for Education. There will also be a focus on wider governor responsibilities in relation to pupil exclusions. This session is for the same school or academy trust requiring training solely for the school or academy trustees.

    £300 (for up to 6 governors)

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  • School-exclusion-training-for-School-Governors

    School exclusion training for School Governors: Responsive (2 hours)

    Does your school have a statutory duty to consider reinstatement of an excluded pupil in the next 15 school days? If so, this session will cover legal duties for governors with little or no experience to ensure they have up to date knowledge of statutory guidance when making their decision. This session is for governors/trustees from the same school/academy.

    £400 (for up to 6 governors)

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  • School-exclusion-training-for-Headteachers

    School exclusion training for Headteachers: Intensive (2 hours)

    Comprehensive training for Headteachers on their statutory duties should they ever face a decision to exclude a pupil, especially permanently. to ensure it is a last resort. Recommended for Headteachers who have never experienced scrutiny from governors when considering their decision to exclude a pupil, and would like to be fully prepared.

    £95 per Headteacher

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  • School-exclusion-training-for-Clerks

    School exclusion training for Clerks: Intensive (2 hours)

    This session examines the role of clerks in cases where school governors are legally required to consider a pupil’s exclusion. From coordinating the meeting, taking minutes, and supporting governors with their decision letter to parents, the clerk is an essential part of the process. This session is also for staff who are not official clerks but undertaking clerking tasks.

    £95 per Clerk

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  • School-exclusion-training-for-Local-Authority Representatives

    School exclusion training for Local Authority Representatives (2 hours)

    This session will provide advice and guidance to representatives from Local Authority teams (specifically those new to their role) who will be attending statutory exclusion meetings in schools alongside governors, headteachers and parents. There will be a comprehensive focus on the statutory exclusions guidance published by the Department for Education in August 2024.

    £95 per LA representative

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  • “Lee’s training was really engaging and comprehensive. I feel confident should I ever need to meet to consider a pupil’s exclusion.”

    - Helen (Parent governor)

  • “I’ve never excluded a pupil before in my career, so knew nothing about the process. This training helped immensely with my preparation for the board meeting.”

    - Martin (Headteacher)

  • “I was called upon to set up a governors meeting when a pupil was permanently excluded. I managed to find this training two weeks before and it was a blessing.

    - Mrs Peters (Clerk)