New suspensions guidance coming with white paper, but headteachers to retain autonomyNew suspensions guidance coming with white paper, but headteachers to retain autonomyMinisters have said schools should only suspend pupils in the most serious cases of poor behaviour and violence, as the Department for Education looks to publish guidance for schools on the use of internal suspensions. Internal suspensions, often referred to as internal exclusions, involve a pupil being removed from a classroom due to poor behaviour but remaining within the school. But headteachers will retain autonomy over the use of both suspensions and internal exclusions, as they are best placed to make decisions, the DfE said. A consultation on the suspensions guidance will be launched later this year. “Many schools already use internal suspensions as one of their tools for managing unacceptable behaviour and this framework could bring more consistency across schools.