Ensuring good behaviour in schools:
Powers to discipline

Powers to discipline²

Teachers, teaching assistants and other paid staff with responsibility for pupils have the power to discipline pupils whose behaviour is unacceptable, who break the school rules or who fail to follow a reasonable instruction.

Their power to discipline applies to pupil behaviour in school and outside school, in certain circumstances.

Punishment

Teachers, teaching assistants and other paid staff with responsibility for pupils can impose any reasonable disciplinary penalty in response to poor behaviour. Reasonable penalties can include: confiscation, retention or disposal of a pupil’s property; and detention. Headteachers can also decide to exclude a pupil for a fixed period to suspend or to permanently exclude them.

² Applies to all maintained schools, academies and Free Schools