Schools: Discipline

(asked on 8th January 2024) - View Source

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of school behaviour policies on levels of school refusal among children.


Answered by
Damian Hinds Portrait
Damian Hinds
Minister of State (Education)
This question was answered on 15th January 2024

The department does not collect data on the impact of behaviour policies on pupils who have mental health needs or are neurodivergent, or those who are absent from school.

In July 2022, the department published updated guidance on Behaviour in Schools and Suspension and Permanent Exclusion statutory guidance. These documents provide clarity and support to schools on how to manage behaviour well for all pupils in the school community.

Any school behaviour policy must be lawful, proportionate and reasonable and comply with the school’s duties under the Equality Act 2010 and the Education and Inspections Act 2006. Account must be taken of a pupil’s age, any Special Educational Needs or Disability (SEND) they may have, and any religious requirements affecting them.

Schools have a duty under the Equality Act 2010 to take such steps as is reasonable to avoid any substantial disadvantage to a disabled pupil caused by the school’s policies or practices. Within these legal parameters, it is then for individual schools to develop their own policies.

Some pupils find it harder than others to attend school and therefore schools and partners should work with pupils and parents to identify and overcome any barriers to attendance by building strong and trusting relationships and working together to put the right support in place.

Securing good attendance cannot therefore be seen in isolation, and effective practices for improvement will involve close interaction with schools’ efforts on curriculum, behaviour, bullying, SEND support, pastoral and mental health and wellbeing, and effective use of resources, including pupil premium.

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