Suspended from school

Overview

You may be suspended from your school if you are being investigated for a disciplinary issue.

You should normally be paid during this period and you should be told why you have been suspended.

However, in some rare cases you may be suspended without pay if your employment contract says that this can happen.

ACAS explains that suspension does not mean an employee has done anything wrong and is often described as ‘a neutral act’.

Being suspended can be stressful for an employee, so it’s important that employers:

• Consider the wellbeing and mental health of anyone they’re thinking of suspending
• Only suspend someone if there’s no other option. Options like a relocation of place of work or change of duties should be explored
• Plan what support they’ll provide to anyone they suspend including a link person for one confidential chain of communication.

What can I expect if I am suspended from school?

During the disciplinary process you may be suspended from school for a set period of time, for the duration of an investigation for example. You should receive a letter outlining the period of time you will be suspended and the reason why you are suspended and that it will be held under regular review.

The letter might explain that you will not be allowed to access the school site or make contact with other members of staff or pupils. If talking to other members of staff prevents you from defending yourself at a disciplinary hearing, it may form grounds for appeal. Bear in mind this is a confidential process. You will be likely to be removed from access to IT systems and sometimes be asked to return property.

You should keep your employment rights, outlined in your contract, during the suspension period. If you do not receive the correct amount of pay you may be able to make a claim to an employment tribunal for ‘unlawful deduction from wages’. If you are not sent or given access to relevant policies such as the disciplinary policy, do ask for this.

We have also produced another article which outlines how the disciplinary process can work in schools.

Is there anything practical I can do in this situation?

Being suspended from work will not be a pleasant experience for anyone. In most cases, when suspension occurs, it is normally in circumstances involving potential gross misconduct.

You could use it as a period of time to collect the facts and obtain advice as soon as possible as it could affect your future career prospects.

We strongly recommend getting in touch with us as soon as possible, if you are an existing subscriber, if you have been suspended from school.

GOV.UK and ACAS also have additional information.