Students can be suspended, excluded or expelled if they threaten or are violent at school or represent a threat to the safety of students or staff.

This includes:

In determining whether to suspend, exclude or expel a student, a principal of a school or the Chief Executive must have regard to:

(Education and Children’s Services Regulations 2020 (SA) r 26)

Suspension

Suspension requires a student to be absent from normal classes and activities for a specific period of time. Suspension means that the student is not permitted to be on school grounds for a particular period of time (up to five consecutive school days) [Education and Children’s Services Act 2019 (SA) s 76].

Exclusion

The principal of a school can exclude a student from attendance at the school (up to 20 weeks in a calendar year) [s 77 (5)]. A principal cannot exclude a student from attendance at a school unless the student has first been suspended from attendance at the school for a period not exceeding 5 consecutive school days [s 77(6)]. A student must obey reasonable written directions in relation to undertaking education, work or other relevant activity during the period of an exclusion, and it is an offence to fail to follow these directions, maximum penalty $1250 [see Education and Children’s Services Act 2019 (SA) s 77(8)].

Expulsion

A student can be expelled for behaviour for which they have previously been suspended.

There are two types of expulsion:

A principal cannot expel a student from a school unless the student has first been suspended from attendance at the school for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive school days [s 78(4)].

A principal cannot make a recommendation unless the student has first been suspended from attendance at the school for a period not exceeding 30 consecutive school days [s 79(4)].

During the period of expulsion, suspension or exclusion the student must not enter the school grounds except with the written approval or at the written request of the principal of the school, maximum penalty, $200. [Education and Children's Services Regulations 2020 (SA) r 27(1)].

An expulsion can be appealed by the student, a person responsible for the student (i.e. a parent), or another adult acting on behalf of the student or person responsible for the student. The rules about when and how an application for an appeal should be made are found in section 80 of the Education and Children's Services Act 2019 (SA). Note that there are very short time frames in which an appeal must be made.

The Department for Education has an information pamphlet explaining procedures for suspension and exclusion for state schools. For independent schools (i.e. non-government schools), information on policies for suspension, exclusion and expulsion can be obtained directly from the individual school.