Behaviour policy: what to publish on your school website
Your behaviour policy explains how you encourage good behaviour, tackle bullying and use sanctions, and your approach to mobile phones.
Check this on my websiteWho it applies to
- Published on
- The school's own website
- School type
- Academies and maintained schools
- School stage
- All stages, from early years to sixth form
- Does not apply to
- No school types are excluded
When it's due
Every September
Review it each year, ready for the new academic year.
What's needed
Publish your behaviour policy on the policies page on your website, including your anti-bullying strategy, sanctions and approach to mobile phones, and review it every year.
In this requirement
Section 1 of 2
Behaviour and anti-bullying policy
The school must publish its behaviour policy: measures to encourage good behaviour, anti-bullying, disciplinary sanctions, and detail on purpose, leadership, rules, staff training and support, banned items that can be searched for and the approach to mobile phones.
- Academies: Should: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.
- Maintained schools: Must: Required by law, statutory guidance or the academy's funding agreement.
What it must contain
13 parts- Explains how it will prevent bullying, including cyberbullying and prejudice-based bullyingMust: Required by law, statutory guidance or the academy's funding agreement.
- Sets out measures to encourage good behaviour and respect for othersMust: Required by law, statutory guidance or the academy's funding agreement.
- Sets out its disciplinary sanctionsMust: Required by law, statutory guidance or the academy's funding agreement.
- Lists items banned by the school that can be searched forShould: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.
- Sets out its approach to prohibiting mobile phone use throughout the school dayShould: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.
- Dates the policy within the last 12 monthsMust: Required by law, statutory guidance or the academy's funding agreement.
- Sets out the policy's purpose and how it creates a safe environment where all pupils can learnShould: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.
- Explains the leadership of behaviour: designated staff and leaders, systems, resources and governor involvementShould: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.
- Sets out the school's rules, routines and consequence systemsShould: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.
- Explains staff induction, development and support, including regular training on behaviourShould: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.
- Explains how pupils are introduced, and reintroduced, to behaviour systems, rules and routinesShould: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.
- Explains the support for pupils, including those whose additional needs might affect behaviourShould: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.
- Sets out measures to prevent child-on-child abuse and how incidents are responded toShould: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.
What the official sources say
Set out in 3 official sources:
What maintained schools must publish online
Schools must publish their behaviour policy. It must comply with section 89 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 .
Must: Required by law, statutory guidance or the academy's funding agreement.§ Behaviour policy > What schools must publish
What academies must publish online
Academies should publish their behaviour policy, including their anti-bullying strategy. Guidance on developing and publishing a behaviour policy is available.
Should: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.§ Behaviour policy > What academies should publish
Behaviour in schools: advice for headteachers and school staff (Feb 2024)
The headteacher of a maintained school must determine measures which aim to: • encourage good behaviour and respect for others; • secure an acceptable standard of behaviour of pupils; • promote, among pupils, self-discipline and proper regard for authority; • prevent all forms of bullying (including cyberbullying, prejudice-based and discriminatory bullying);
Must: Required by law, statutory guidance or the academy's funding agreement.§ Developing a school behaviour policy, pages 7–8 (footnote 4: s89(1) EIA 2006); list continues on page 8 with 'ensure that pupils complete any tasks reasonably assigned to them' and 'otherwise regulate the conduct of pupils'
The proprietor of an academy or independent school must ensure that a written policy to promote good behaviour among pupils is drawn up and implemented effectively. The behaviour policy must also set out the disciplinary sanctions.
Must: Required by law, statutory guidance or the academy's funding agreement.§ Developing a school behaviour policy, page 8 (footnote 6: Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2014, Schedule 1, paragraph 9)
Show 9 more from this source
The school’s behaviour policy must also be published on the school website.
Must: Required by law, statutory guidance or the academy's funding agreement.§ Communicating the behaviour policy, page 9 (footnote 11: School Information (England) Regulations 2008)
Headteachers at all maintained schools (including special schools), pupil referral units, academy schools and alternative provision academies in England must have regard to the Suspension and permanent exclusion guidance when considering either of these sanctions.
Must: Required by law, statutory guidance or the academy's funding agreement.§ Footnote 20, pages 17–18
Academies and independent schools should publish details of the school’s behaviour policy.
Should: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.§ Communicating the behaviour policy, page 10
A behaviour policy should include detail on the following: a) purpose – including the underlying objectives of the policy, and how it creates a safe environment in which all pupils can learn and reach their full potential; b) leadership and management – including the role of designated staff and leaders, any systems used, the resources allocated and engagement of governors/trustees; c) school systems and social norms – including rules, routines, and consequence systems; d) staff induction, development and support – including regular training for staff on behaviour; e) pupil transition – including induction and re-induction into behaviour systems, rules, and routines; f) pupil support – including the roles and responsibilities of designated staff and the support provided to pupils with additional needs where those needs might affect behaviour;
Should: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.§ Developing a school behaviour policy, pages 8–9 (items g–i on page 9 after the footnote block)
h) banned items – a list of items which are banned by the school and for which a search can be made.
Should: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.§ Developing a school behaviour policy, page 9
i) mobile phones – a clear approach prohibiting the use of mobile phones in school throughout the school day
Should: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.§ Developing a school behaviour policy, page 9; see also 'Mobile phones', pages 32–33
The school behaviour policy should adhere to the following principles: a) accessible and easily understood: clear and easily understood by pupils, staff and parents;
Should: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.§ Developing a school behaviour policy, page 9 (principles b–e follow, interrupted by footnote markers 8 and 9)
The behaviour policy should include a range of possible sanctions clearly communicated to and understood by pupils, staff, and parents.
Should: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.§ Acceptable forms of sanction, page 16
g) child-on-child abuse – including measures to prevent child-on-child abuse and the response to incidents of such abuse;
Should: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.§ Developing a school behaviour policy, page 9 (item g of the list begun on page 8)
Section 2 of 2
Suspensions and exclusions information
Parents should be able to find out how suspension is used and how permanent exclusion works, in the behaviour policy or alongside it, with links to impartial advice for parents.
The register sets this section for maintained schools only.
What it must contain
2 parts- Explains that suspension, a temporary removal from school, is an essential behaviour management toolShould: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.
- Links to up-to-date sources of impartial advice for parentsShould: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.
What the official sources say
Set out in 1 official source:
Suspension and permanent exclusion guidance (effective 26 July 2026)
A suspension, where a pupil is temporarily removed from the school, is an essential behaviour management tool that should be set out within a school’s behaviour policy.
Should: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.§ Part three, para 5, page 12
providing up to date links to sources of impartial advice for parents
Should: Recommended in official guidance, such as the DfE's. Not a legal requirement in itself.§ Part three, para 15 (Setting a clear process for exclusions), page 14 — introduced by 'Headteachers should consider the following, when setting a clear process for exclusions:'
Questions schools ask
Do schools have to publish their behaviour policy?
Behaviour and anti-bullying policy: Maintained schools must. For academies, it's recommended in official guidance, but isn't a legal requirement in itself. Suspensions and exclusions information: For academies and maintained schools, it's recommended in official guidance, but isn't a legal requirement in itself.
What does a school behaviour policy need to include?
Explains how it will prevent bullying, including cyberbullying and prejudice-based bullying; Sets out measures to encourage good behaviour and respect for others; Sets out its disciplinary sanctions; Lists items banned by the school that can be searched for; Sets out its approach to prohibiting mobile phone use throughout the school day; Dates the policy within the last 12 months; and 9 more parts listed above.
How often do we need to review our behaviour policy?
Every September. Review it each year, ready for the new academic year.
Where does the requirement for the behaviour policy come from?
It is set out in What maintained schools must publish online, What academies must publish online, Behaviour in schools: advice for headteachers and school staff (Feb 2024) and Suspension and permanent exclusion guidance (effective 26 July 2026).
Recent changes to the official guidance
Updates to the official sources that affect this requirement, newest first.
24 October 2024 · What academies must publish online
The DfE updated the behaviour policy section of its list for academies.
We last checked these sources on 21 September 2026.
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Official wording that does not apply to schools (4)
Online pathways such as Google Classroom or Oak Academy can be used but schools should ensure that the work set is accessible and achievable by the pupil outside school.
the term ‘must’ refers to what headteachers/governing boards/academy trusts/local authorities/parents and others are required to do by law and must have regard to when carrying out their duties. The term ‘should’ refers to recommendations for good practice as mentioned in the suspension and permanent exclusion guidance and should be followed unless there is good reason not to
If a parent feels pressured into electively home educating their child or that the suspension or permanent exclusion procedures have not been followed, they can follow the school’s complaints procedure with the governing board and in the case of a maintained school, the local authority.
this guide does not apply to independent schools (other than the academies listed above), city technology colleges, city colleges for the technology of the arts, further education colleges, sixth form colleges,16-19 academies or 16-19 free schools, all of which have separate suspension and permanent exclusion procedures
Official sources last checked 21 September 2026 · register version 1.0.4