Decision-Making Toolkit & Case Studies

🧰 Decision-Making Toolkit for Headteachers

This toolkit helps Headteachers follow a structured approach when handling behaviour incidents, ensuring decisions are fair, proportionate, and evidence-informed.

🪜 Step-by-Step Behaviour Decision Pathway

  1. Incident occurs – ensure immediate safety
  2. Record initial facts and secure any evidence
  3. Gather witness statements from staff and pupils
  4. Consult key staff (e.g. ALNCo, pastoral team)
  5. Review the pupil’s background and any existing plans
  6. Assess whether alternative strategies are appropriate
  7. Use Sanction Guidelines to determine proportionate response
  8. Document the decision and rationale
  9. Notify parents/carers and issue written confirmation
  10. Plan support or reintegration depending on outcome

✅ Downloadable Checklists

📚 Key Policies & Legal Guidance

📘 Reflective Practice & Peer Case Studies

Making fair and proportionate decisions can be challenging. These anonymised case studies provide real examples of how Headteachers across Wales have applied Sanction Guidelines thoughtfully and reflectively.

Case: Persistent Low-Level Disruption – Year 9 Pupil with ALN

Learner Profile

Year Group: 9
ALN Status: Yes (MLD)
Support in Place: IDP, 1:1 TA, reduced timetable
Behaviour History: Ongoing low-level disruption across three terms

Incident Summary

Pupil frequently disrupted lessons by shouting out, walking out of classrooms, and encouraging peers to misbehave. Existing interventions had limited success.

Considerations Before Decision
Decision Made

Sanction: Fixed-Term Exclusion (3 days)
Reason: Deliberate and sustained disruption, negatively impacting peers’ learning

Follow-Up Support Plan
Reflection from Headteacher
“The process reminded me of the value of collective input and evidence-based reflection. It wasn’t an easy decision, but necessary to reset expectations and support both the pupil and their peers.”
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 Removing Learners in Exceptional Circumstances
(WG 1.11.1 – 1.11.4)

 

In exceptional cases, a learner may need to be removed from the school site even when formal exclusion is not appropriate—for example, if they are accused of a serious crime outside school or if there is not enough evidence for exclusion.

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  • A headteacher can either:

    • Authorise a short-term leave of absence, with parental agreement, or

    • Use powers under Section 29(3) of the Education Act 2002 to direct the learner to alternative education elsewhere, even without parental consent (though parents must be informed).

  • Any alternative provision must be for educational purposes, and:

    • Must be temporary and only used when necessary

    • Must ensure the learner’s full-time education continues

    • Must not be used to manage behaviour or as a substitute for exclusion

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These arrangements must be clearly documented and reviewed regularly with parents to avoid being mistaken for unlawful exclusion. If exclusion remains a possibility, parents should be told from the outset. Delaying exclusion too long could make it appear improper. Section 29(3) must not be used to remove pupils from site purely for behavioural reasons.

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