At the Board of Management meeting on 21/12/23 the Behaviour for Learning Policy was updated with reference to the section on Suspension appeals. It was found to have an error re the procedure.
The new policy can be found here: https://clonakiltycc.ie/school-policies/
The inaccurate wording previously was:
Appeals
- For suspension of three days or more, the Principal’s decision to suspend may be appealed to the Board of Management. Furthermore, a decision of the Board to suspend may be appealed to CETB and thereafter to the DE.
- Where the total number of days for which the student has been suspended in one school year reaches 20 days, the parents/guardians will be informed of their right to appeal the suspension under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, as amended by the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2007.
The accurate wording now reads:
Appeals
- As the principles of natural justice demand that there must be a right of appeal, a student aged over 18 years or his/her parent/guardian may appeal the Principal’s decision to suspend to the Board of Management. Such an appeal must be made in writing to the Chairperson of the Board of Management, stating the grounds on which the appeal is being made.
- However, the school may insist that the student remain at home while the appeal proceeds. If an appeal is successful, the suspension will be lifted and if the suspension has already been served, it will be expunged from the student’s record.
- Where the total number of days for which the student has been suspended in the current school year reaches 20 days, the parents/guardians, or a student aged over 18 years, may appeal the suspension under section 29 of the Education Act 1998, and will be given information on how to appeal.
