Thread by @tomasth89

1/11 The #TimpsonReview uses the word "governor" (usually alongside "trustee") 21 times, including four times with reference to diversity and ten times to a relatively short section on how important it is that they fulfil their review functions well. #ukgovchat

2/11 Just to be clear: governors/trustees must consider all parental representations from parents; they must automatically consider the reinstatement of children excluded for >15 days in a term, or permanently. #TimpsonReview #ukgovchat

3/11 Governors/trustees are responsible for ethos and values of the school(s); they are responsible for discharging the school(s)' legal duties, including under the SENCoP, PSED and exclusion and registration regulations. #TimpsonReview #ukgovchat

4/11 Gs&Ts are responsible (directly or indirectly) for the performance management of every head who has the power to exclude a child.

Their potential to change the current situation with regard to exclusions is enormous. More than 21 references' worth. #TimpsonReview #ukgovchat

5/11 One barrier to Gs&Ts properly reviewing exclusions is a lack of understanding of public law principles. Take proportionality, for example: a common understanding of this is that it means the punishment should reflect the severity of the behaviour... #TimpsonReview #ukgovchat

6/11 Proportionality is better defined as "the minimum action necessary to achieve the ends reasonably required by the school".

"Would cause serious harm" is another standard that Gs&Ts need to consider very carefully... #TimpsonReview #ukgovchat

7/11 "Would" needs to carry a greater degree of certainty than "might" and "could". It needs to be more likely than not. "Serious harm" needs to be so much more than "detrimental", "undermining", "a bad thing". #TimpsonReview #ukgovchat

8/11 Gs&Ts should ask heads to set out exhaustively why every possible alternative wouldn't do in order to be satisfied that exclusion is a last resort.

But this shouldn't be the starting point... #TimpsonReview #ukgovchat

9/11 The #TimpsonReview speaks in broad terms about "schools" and "leaders" - hugely important, but it is for Gs&Ts to embed an ethos of inclusiveness up front. To make clear that they won't "punish" a head for being inclusive, but they won't condone illegality. #ukgovchat

10/11 The same goes for the importance of diversity: anecdotally, I have to say that gender, sexual orientation, class, ethnicity and disability have made no difference to review outcomes. Where diversity of opinion and characteristic can... #TimpsonReview #ukgovchat

11/11 ...make a difference is in establishing the ethos of the school(s) or, indeed, re-establishing one that isn't serving all their children. #TimpsonReview #ukgovchat

That's all for tonight - more reading tomorrow! Good night x