Introduction

Schools in England can search and screen pupils and confiscate prohibited items. There is guidance titled Searching, Screening, and Confiscation that sets out the law in this area.

What are prohibited items?

Prohibited items include:

• Knives or weapons
• Alcohol
• Illegal drugs
• Stolen items
• Tobacco and cigarette papers
• Fireworks
• Pornographic images
• Anything that a member of staff reasonably suspects has been, or is likely to be, used to commit an offence or injure a person or damage property
• Any item which a school policy specifies as banned and able to be searched for

Schools, by law, must clearly state in their behaviour policy which items are prohibited.

Can I be screened at school?

Schools can force you to be screened by a walk-through or hand-held metal detector whether or not they suspect you of having a weapon and without your consent. If you refuse to be screened, the school may refuse you access to the school premises.

Can I be searched at school?

With your consent, school staff can search you for any item. The consent does not have to be in writing.

If you do not consent, a Headteacher or a member of staff authorised by the Headteacher can carry out a search for prohibited items where there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that you are carrying a prohibited item.

Before any search takes place, the member of staff conducting the search should explain to you why you are being searched, how and where the search is going to take place and give you the opportunity to ask any questions.

When being searched, you can only be told to take off ‘outer clothing’. ‘Outer clothing’ means clothing that is not worn next to the skin or immediately over underwear.

Can I be strip searched?

A strip search is a search involving the removal of more than outer clothing. Strip searches on school premises can only be carried out by police. A strip search can only happen if the police think it’s necessary to find something related to a crime, and they have good reason to believe you might be hiding it.

Except in an urgent situation where there’s a serious risk of harm to you or others, if a strip search involves removing clothes that show private parts, there must be at least two adults there (not including you). One of them must be an appropriate adult. If your parent wants to be the appropriate adult, the school should allow this where possible.

The police officers doing the search must be the same sex as you. An appropriate adult of a different sex can be there if you ask for it, but otherwise, no one of a different sex is allowed to be present.

The search must be done in a private place where no one else can see you.

Can a teacher use force to search me?

School staff can use reasonable force to search for prohibited items, but not for items that are only banned under the school’s policy.

Can a school search my stuff?

The school can search your desk, locker, and bags. Normally, your things will be searched with you and another member of staff there. But in an emergency, they can be searched without you or another staff member present.

Can a school take my stuff?

A member of staff can confiscate, keep or dispose of your property as a punishment, where reasonable to do so.

If your phone has been used to commit an offence or if the school behaviour policy states that mobile phones are prohibited, then it can be searched for and confiscated. The member of staff can look at data on the phone if there is good reason to do so and can delete files or images if they have been or could be used to cause harm, disrupt teaching or break school rules.

If you are suspected to have done something illegal, information held on your phone may be passed to the police.

How do I complain about a search?

If you are unhappy about how a search has been carried out, you or your parents can complain to the school following the school complaints procedure.

For more information see Complaints to schools.