24 hours notice for detention

Pupils detention became unequivocally lawful in the latest Education Act. However, in this case having powers in primary legislation can be a double edged sword.

One condition for lawful detention set out in the act is that parents must be given at least 24 hours notice of a detention. ASCL has questioned the DfES on this, and civil servants are standing by the exact wording. The 24-hour notice period starts from when a parent receives the notice. So, technically, a pupil taking home a detention note on Monday cannot be kept in on Tuesday. The earliest that that detention can be served is Wednesday.