Schools and learning

Detention

Detention is one of the sanctions available to schools in cases where disciplinary action is required against a pupil.

The 1997 Education Act gives schools legal backing to detain pupils after the end of a school session - this can be at lunchtime or after school.

Before detention is used, there are several steps that must be followed:

• Pupils, parents and staff must be made aware that detention will be used as a sanction
• Parents of pupils who have started at the school through the casual admissions process must be made aware of the use of detention
• Part of the 1997 Act states that schools must give at least 24 hours' written notice to the parents of the children concerned, BEFORE the detention takes place.

If you have any queries regarding detention at your child's school, you should contact the school in the first instance.