education – Children's Law Centre https://childrenslawcentre.org.uk Children's Rights Change Children's Lives Tue, 21 Jul 2020 08:56:04 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 https://childrenslawcentre.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-icon_v1-32x32.png education – Children's Law Centre https://childrenslawcentre.org.uk 32 32 What is an Education Supervision Order? https://childrenslawcentre.org.uk/faqs/what-is-an-education-supervision-order/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-is-an-education-supervision-order Fri, 03 Jul 2020 10:45:32 +0000 https://new.childrenslawcentre.org.uk/?post_type=epkb_post_type_1&p=1659 An Education Supervision Order is a Court Order which gives the Education Authority a supervision role over a child’s education. This Order is made when a court is convinced that a child of compulsory school age is not being properly educated.

]]> What will the Expulsions Appeal Tribunal consider? https://childrenslawcentre.org.uk/faqs/what-will-the-expulsions-appeal-tribunal-consider/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-will-the-expulsions-appeal-tribunal-consider Thu, 02 Jul 2020 15:17:02 +0000 https://new.childrenslawcentre.org.uk/?post_type=epkb_post_type_1&p=1637 At the hearing the Expulsions Appeal Tribunal must consider all of the circumstances of the case. In particular the Tribunal will look at the following:

  • Anything presented in writing
  • Anything said by you, your child, your child’s friend or representative
  • Anything said by the Education Authority and any other people involved in the decision to expel your child
  • Whether the school’s procedures for expulsion were properly followed.
  • The interests of other pupils and teachers in the school.

As soon as possible after the hearing, the decision of the Tribunal is sent in writing to you if your child is under 18, or directly to them if they are over 18, as well as whoever expelled them.

]]> Will my child need a solicitor for an expulsion Tribunal? https://childrenslawcentre.org.uk/faqs/will-my-child-need-a-solicitor-for-an-expulsion-tribunal/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=will-my-child-need-a-solicitor-for-an-expulsion-tribunal Thu, 02 Jul 2020 15:16:08 +0000 https://new.childrenslawcentre.org.uk/?post_type=epkb_post_type_1&p=1635 You can bring a representative with you to the appeal hearing to help you put forward their views, however it is not necessary for them to have someone there.

]]> If my child makes an appeal can they attend the Tribunal? https://childrenslawcentre.org.uk/faqs/if-my-child-makes-an-appeal-can-they-attend-the-tribunal/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=if-my-child-makes-an-appeal-can-they-attend-the-tribunal Thu, 02 Jul 2020 15:15:23 +0000 https://new.childrenslawcentre.org.uk/?post_type=epkb_post_type_1&p=1633 Your child may attend the Tribunal and speak at the hearing if they wish.

]]> How long does my child have to make an appeal against their expulsion? https://childrenslawcentre.org.uk/faqs/how-long-does-my-child-have-to-make-an-appeal-against-their-expulsion/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-long-does-my-child-have-to-make-an-appeal-against-their-expulsion Thu, 02 Jul 2020 15:14:33 +0000 https://new.childrenslawcentre.org.uk/?post_type=epkb_post_type_1&p=1631 It is important to act quickly as your child must tell the Education Authority that they wish to appeal within 10 days of the date of the letter confirming their expulsion. A parent or pupil wishing to appeal the decision must send the Education Authority Expulsion Appeal Tribunal the reasons for the appeal in writing.

]]> What happens when my school have decided to expel my child? https://childrenslawcentre.org.uk/faqs/what-happens-when-my-school-have-decided-to-expel-my-child/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-happens-when-my-school-have-decided-to-expel-my-child Thu, 02 Jul 2020 15:11:44 +0000 https://new.childrenslawcentre.org.uk/?post_type=epkb_post_type_1&p=1627 Once a decision is made, the Principal must write immediately to you and tell you about your right of appeal against the decision to an independent Expulsion Appeal Tribunal which is convened by the Education Authority in which the school is located, the time limit set by the Education Authority for lodging an appeal and where the appeal should be lodged.

]]> What will happen before my child is expelled? https://childrenslawcentre.org.uk/faqs/what-will-happen-before-my-child-is-expelled/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-will-happen-before-my-child-is-expelled Thu, 02 Jul 2020 15:09:59 +0000 https://new.childrenslawcentre.org.uk/?post_type=epkb_post_type_1&p=1625 Before an expulsion can take place there must be a meeting between you, the Principal, Chief Executive of the Education Authority and the Chairperson of the Board of Governors. Your child can ask to attend this meeting if they wish. If you fail to attend this meeting your child may still be expelled. This meeting must include a discussion about the future of your child’s education.

If your child attends an Education Authority controlled school, the Principal must prepare papers and send these to the Suspensions and Expulsions Panel of the Education Authority where they go to school. The papers will then be sent to a committee called the ‘Committee on the Suspension and Expulsion of Pupils’.

If your child attends a Catholic Council Maintained School (CCMS), a voluntary school or a grant-maintained school, the Board of Governors of their school makes the final decision about whether they will be expelled.

]]> Can my child’s school expel them without any warning or alternative consequence? https://childrenslawcentre.org.uk/faqs/can-my-childs-school-expel-them-without-any-warning-or-alternative-consequence/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=can-my-childs-school-expel-them-without-any-warning-or-alternative-consequence Thu, 02 Jul 2020 15:05:18 +0000 https://new.childrenslawcentre.org.uk/?post_type=epkb_post_type_1&p=1623 No, your child must have been suspended at least once before they can be expelled.

]]> I feel like my child has been unfairly expelled, what can I do? https://childrenslawcentre.org.uk/faqs/i-feel-like-my-child-has-been-unfairly-expelled-what-can-i-do/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=i-feel-like-my-child-has-been-unfairly-expelled-what-can-i-do Thu, 02 Jul 2020 15:04:33 +0000 https://new.childrenslawcentre.org.uk/?post_type=epkb_post_type_1&p=1621 Every school must have procedures for expulsions. You or your child can ask to see these. Your child should always ask their school to put them in touch with an Education Welfare Officer if they have been expelled from school. The rules can be slightly different depending on what type of school they attend. The Education Authority will be able to advise you on this.

]]> Can my child appeal their suspension? https://childrenslawcentre.org.uk/faqs/can-my-child-appeal-their-suspension/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=can-my-child-appeal-their-suspension Thu, 02 Jul 2020 15:03:45 +0000 https://new.childrenslawcentre.org.uk/?post_type=epkb_post_type_1&p=1619 There is no right of appeal for either you or your child against a school’s decision to suspend them. However, if the Principal and Board of Governors have failed to follow the school’s policy and procedures relating to suspension, or the decision to suspend is unreasonable or unlawful, then it is possible to challenge the decision by way of a judicial review in the High Court.

If a challenge is successful then the Board of Governors of the school may be directed to remove the suspension from a pupil’s school records.

If you think you have been suspended unfairly then you should contact the Children’s Law Centre on 08088085678 or email: info@childrenslawcentre.org for advice.

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