Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if the Government will take steps to amend school exclusion guidance to include the responsibilities of head teachers, governing bodies and school staff on the reporting of schools that act unlawfully.

We do not believe it is practical to introduce new reporting requirements on schools excluding unlawfully. However, there are clear duties in place to ensure that all exclusions are lawful, reasonable and fair.

This includes a process by which all decisions to exclude can be (and in the case of longer or permanent exclusions, must be) reviewed by the schools’ governing board. For permanent exclusions, parents can also request a review of the decision by an independent review panel, who can direct or recommend that the governing board reconsider their decision.