About this guide
- This guide is from the Department for Education. It provides advice to headteachers and school staff on developing the school behaviour policy and explains the powers members of staff have to discipline pupils.
- The purpose of the document is to provide an overview of the powers and duties for school staff. It is for individual schools to develop their own best practice for managing behaviour in their school.
- This guide replaces the ‘school discipline and pupil behaviour policies – guidance for schools’.
Expiry/Review date
This guide will be reviewed in spring 2013.
What legislation does this guide relate to?
- Education Act 1996
-
School Standards and Framework Act 1998 - Education Act 2002
- Education and Inspections Act 2006
- Education Act 2011
Who is this guide for?
This guide is for headteachers and school staff of maintained schools.
Key points
- Teachers have statutory authority to discipline pupils for misbehaviour which occurs in school and, in some circumstances, outside of school.
- The power to discipline also applies to all paid staff (unless the head teacher says otherwise) with responsibility for pupils, such as teaching assistants.
- Heads and governing bodies must ensure they have a strong behaviour policy to support staff in managing behaviour, including the use of rewards and sanctions.
- Governing bodies have a duty under section 175 of the Education Act 2002 requiring them to make arrangements to ensure that their functions are carried out with a view to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
