Discipline in middle school or high school

Verified 01 October 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Is your child a victim or perpetrator of violence or a serious act in his/her middle or high school? The head of the school then initiates disciplinary proceedings and may decide himself to sanction the pupil. In some cases, he must refer the matter to the disciplinary board of the institution. In the event of serious harm to persons or property, to the values of the Republic and in particular to the principle of secularism, it may refer the matter to the departmental disciplinary council. We present you the information to know.

Decision of the head of establishment

The head of the institution shall decide alone whether disciplinary proceedings are necessary, possibly at the request of a member of the educational community.

In some cases, the head of the school must initiate disciplinary proceedings either by deciding on the student's sanction alone or by referring the matter to the disciplinary board. These are the following:

  • A student is the perpetrator of verbal abuse against a staff member of the institution
  • A pupil commits a serious act against a member of staff or another pupil
  • A pupil commits an act which seriously undermines the principles of the Republic, in particular the principle of secularism
  • A pupil commits harassment, including cyberharassment, against another pupil, including when the latter is enrolled in another school.

Please note

In the event that a pupil commits a serious breach of the principles of the Republic, in particular the principle of secularism, the head of the school may ask the Dasen: titleContent initiate disciplinary proceedings in its place.

The head teacher may prohibit your child from entering the institution during at least 2 days before imposing a sanction.

This is not a sanction, but an exceptional measure.

The procedure must be laid down in the from the establishment.

The decision whether or not to initiate disciplinary proceedings cannot be appealed to the court.

Your child is informed of the facts and can consult his file.

The head teacher informs your child that he/she has the right to remain silent during the disciplinary procedure.

Within a period of at least 2 working days, he has the right to defend himself orally or in writing and to be assisted by a person of his choice.

If your child is a minor, you are also informed of the alleged facts. You can also make comments.

The superintendent must justify the sanction he or she is taking. It must also indicate the remedies and time limits for appeal.

The decision is sent to you and your child by registered letter or hand delivery.

The head of the institution shall enter it in a register of penalties.

The head of the establishment may pronounce the sanctions following:

  • Warning
  • Blame
  • Accountability Measure up to 20 hours maximum
  • Temporary exclusion from class up to 8 days maximum
  • Temporary exclusion from the establishment up to 8 days maximum.

FYI  

The reprieve may be pronounced for the accountability measure and temporary exclusion from the class or institution. An accountability measure may be decided to replace the temporary exclusion from the classroom or institution with your child's consent.

Sanctions are recorded in your child's administrative file. They're there kept for a limited time.

There are 2 types of recourse: administrative and contentious.

Administrative appeal

Your child, or yourself if he is a minor, can make a administrative appeal against the decision of the head of establishment within 2 months after the notification of the decision.

This appeal may be submitted to the head of the school (ex gratia appeal) or to the academic authority (hierarchical appeal).

Who shall I contact

Litigation

Your child, or yourself if he is a minor, can make a contentious remedies against the penalty pronounced by the head of the school.

This appeal must be filed with the administrative court of the place of the school within 2 months after the notification of the penalty.

You can also appeal to the courts against a rejection decision issued after an administrative appeal within 2 months after notification of the rejection decision.

You don't have to hire a lawyer.

Who shall I contact

Meeting of the Disciplinary Board

The competent board is that of the institution where the student is registered.

The composition of the disciplinary board is different in middle school and high school.

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At the college

Composition

The Disciplinary Board consists of the following 14 members:

  • 9 members of the institution: the head of the institution, his assistant, 1 senior education advisor (CPE), the manager of the institution and 5 elected staff representatives
  • 3 elected representatives of parents of pupils
  • 2 elected representatives of students.

All members are members of the institution's board of directors.

In the event that the Disciplinary Board is convened forserious breach of the principles of the Republic or the principle of secularism, the Dasen: titleContent (or its representative) may chair it. To do so, the head of the institution must make a request to him.

In the same case, the Dasen: titleContent may appoint a person from the academy, competent in the field of violations of the principles of the Republic or the principle of secularism, to sit on the disciplinary board. To do so, the head of the institution must make a request to him.

Election of members

Representatives are elected by their peers on the occasion of the 1re meeting of the board of directors following its election.

The election shall be by proportional ballot to the highest balance for the representatives of pupils, teachers and parents of pupils.

The election is held by single-member ballot in 1 round for administrative, social and health, technical, workers and service personnel.

In the event of a tie, the youngest of the candidates shall be declared elected.

Each member must have an alternate, appointed under the same conditions.

In high school

Composition

The Disciplinary Board consists of the following 14 members:

  • 9 members of the institution: the head of the institution, his assistant, 1 senior education advisor (CPE), the manager of the institution and 5 elected staff representatives
  • 2 elected representatives of parents of pupils
  • 3 elected representatives of students.

In the event that the Disciplinary Board is convened forserious breach of the principles of the Republic or the principle of secularism, the Dasen: titleContent (or its representative) may chair it. To do so, the head of the institution must make a request to him.

In the same case, the Dasen: titleContent may appoint a person from the academy, competent in the field of violations of the principles of the Republic or the principle of secularism, to sit on the disciplinary board. To do so, the head of the institution must make a request to him.

Election of members

Staff and parents' representatives are elected by their peers on the occasion of the 1re meeting of the board of directors following its election.

The student representatives are elected by the student delegates at their 1re meeting in general assembly.

The election shall be held by proportional representation of the highest remaining number of representatives of teaching staff and parents of pupils.

It takes place in a 1-round multi-member ballot for student representatives.

The election is held by single-member ballot in 1 round for administrative, social and health, technical, workers and service personnel.

In the event of a tie, the youngest of the candidates shall be declared elected.

Each member must have an alternate, appointed under the same conditions.

The superintendent decides whether to convene the disciplinary board.

In some cases, the head of the school must initiate disciplinary proceedings either by deciding on the student's sanction alone or by referring the matter to the disciplinary board. These are the following:

  • A student is the perpetrator of verbal abuse against a staff member of the institution
  • A pupil commits a serious act against a member of staff or another pupil
  • A pupil commits an act which seriously undermines the principles of the Republic, in particular the principle of secularism
  • A pupil commits harassment, including cyberharassment, against another pupil, including when the latter is enrolled in another school.

However, the head of the institution must seize mandatory the Disciplinary Board in any of the following cases:

  • A staff member at the facility was physically abused
  • A student introduces a weapon into the school or carries a weapon with him.

When a member of the educational community has requested in writing the meeting of the disciplinary board, the superintendent must notify to that person and to give reasons for his or her refusal.

The head teacher may prohibit your child from entering the school until the disciplinary board meets.

This is not a sanction but an exceptional measure.

Summons

The head of the institution shall fix the date of the session.

He summons your child, yourself (if the child is a minor) and possibly the person in charge of defending him. This summons is made by registered letter or hand delivery against signature.

The head of the establishment shall summon the following persons by any means, including by e-mail:

  • Person who requested the appearance of the student
  • Witnesses who can enlighten the council on the facts alleged against the student. If they are minors, their legal representatives must also be called
  • Board members.

Summonses must be transmitted at least 5 days prior to the date of the sitting.

For security reasons, the head of the school may relocate the disciplinary board to another school or to the premises of the academic inspectorate.

Holding of the council

The chairman of the disciplinary board shall state the facts.

The council hears from your child. You (if the child is a minor) and the person responsible for assisting him/her may also speak if you so request.

The President also gave the floor to the following persons:

  • 2 teachers in the class (designated by the head of the school)
  • 2 delegates of the class
  • Person who requested the appearance of the student
  • Witnesses likely to enlighten the council on the facts alleged against the student
  • Anyone who can provide useful information about the student.

Each party must present its case.

The Disciplinary Board shall deliberate by secret ballot by a majority of the votes cast.

The President shall immediately inform you of the Council's decision.

This decision shall be notified by registered letter, indicating the time limits and possible remedies.

The Council may pronounce sanctions following:

  • Warning
  • Blame
  • Accountability Measure up to 20 hours maximum
  • Temporary exclusion from class up to 8 days maximum
  • Temporary exclusion from the establishment up to 8 days maximum
  • Permanent exclusion from the establishment.

FYI  

the reprieve may be pronounced for the accountability measure and temporary exclusion from the class or institution. An accountability measure may be decided to replace the temporary exclusion from the classroom or institution with your child's consent.

Sanctions are recorded in your child's administrative file. They're there kept for a limited time.

Administrative appeal

A decision of a disciplinary board may be the subject of an administrative appeal to the rector of the academy.

Who shall I contact

This appeal must be made in the 8 days which follow the written notification of the penalty.

The appeal can be made by your child (or yourself if he is a minor) or by the head of the institution.

The rector of the academy makes his decision after consulting an academic appeal board.

The decision must be taken within1 month from the receipt of the appeal.

Litigation

To appeal to the Administrative Court, it is necessary mandatory have made an administrative appeal to the rector of the academy.

Your child, or yourself if he is a minor, can challenge the decision of the rector of the academy when it is unfavorable.

The contentious remedies must be made before the administrative court of the place of the school within 2 months after notification of the decision of the rector of academy.

The court rules on the decision of the rector of the academy and not on the sanction imposed by the disciplinary board.

You don't have to hire a lawyer.

Who shall I contact

Meeting of the Departmental Disciplinary Board

The Departmental Disciplinary Board comprises the following members:

  • Academic Director of National Education Services ( Dasen: titleContent) or its representative
  • 2 representatives of senior staff
  • 2 representatives of teaching staff
  • 1 representative of institutional staff
  • 1 main board of education
  • 2 representatives of parents of pupils
  • 2 student representatives.

These representatives (except the Dasen: titleContent ) are all members of an establishment disciplinary board.

They are appointed for 1 year by the rector of academy.

Serious injury to persons or property

To convene the Departmental Disciplinary Board, the Dasen: titleContent shall be referred to the head of establishment where the following reasons are met:

  • Some acts of serious personal injury or property
  • Risk to the serenity of the council, the order or security of the institution.

Your child must have been permanently excluded a school or have been the subject of criminal prosecution for the same facts.

Serious violation of the values of the Republic or the principle of secularism

To convene the Departmental Disciplinary Board, the Dasen: titleContent shall be referred to the head of establishment where the following reasons are met:

  • Some acts of serious attack on the values of the Republic and in particular on the principle of secularism
  • Risk to the serenity of the council, the order or security of the institution.

The head of the school may prohibit your child from entering the school until the convening of the departmental disciplinary council.

This is not a sanction, but an exceptional measure.

Summons

The head of the institution shall fix the date of the session.

He summons your child, yourself (if the child is a minor) and possibly the person in charge of defending him. This summons is made by registered letter or hand delivery against signature.

The head of the establishment shall summon the following persons by any means, including by e-mail:

  • Person who requested the appearance of the student
  • Witnesses who can enlighten the council on the facts alleged against the student. If they are minors, their legal representatives must also be called
  • Board members.

Summonses must be transmitted at least 5 days prior to the date of the sitting.

For security reasons, the head of the school may relocate the disciplinary board to another school or to the premises of the academic inspectorate.

Holding of the council

The chairman of the disciplinary board shall state the facts.

The council hears from your child. You (if the child is a minor) and the person responsible for assisting him/her may also speak if you so request.

The President also gave the floor to the following persons:

  • 2 teachers in the class (designated by the head of the school)
  • 2 delegates of the class
  • Person who requested the appearance of the student
  • Witnesses likely to enlighten the council on the facts alleged against the student
  • Anyone who can provide useful information about the student.

Each party must present its case.

The Disciplinary Board shall deliberate by secret ballot by a majority of the votes cast.

The President shall immediately inform you of the Council's decision.

This decision shall be notified by registered letter, indicating the time limits and possible remedies.

The Council may pronounce sanctions following:

  • Warning
  • Blame
  • Accountability Measure up to 20 hours maximum
  • Temporary exclusion from class up to 8 days maximum
  • Temporary exclusion from the establishment up to 8 days maximum
  • Permanent exclusion from the establishment.

FYI  

the reprieve may be pronounced for the accountability measure and temporary exclusion from the class or institution. An accountability measure may be decided to replace the temporary exclusion from the classroom or institution with your child's consent.

Sanctions are recorded in your child's administrative file. They're there kept for a limited time.

Administrative appeal

A decision of a disciplinary board may be the subject of an administrative appeal to the rector of the academy.

Who shall I contact

This appeal must be made in the 8 days which follow the written notification of the penalty.

The appeal can be made by your child (or yourself if he is a minor) or by the head of the institution.

The rector of the academy makes his decision after consulting an academic appeal board.

The decision must be taken within1 month from the receipt of the appeal.

Litigation

To appeal to the Administrative Court, it is necessary mandatory have made an administrative appeal to the rector of the academy.

Your child, or yourself if he is a minor, can challenge the decision of the rector of the academy when it is unfavorable.

The contentious remedies must be made before the administrative court of the place of the school within 2 months after notification of the decision of the rector of academy.

The court rules on the decision of the rector of the academy and not on the sanction imposed by the disciplinary board.

You don't have to hire a lawyer.

Who shall I contact

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