08/03/10 - Action needed to tackle abuse and violence in Teesside schools

Action needed to tackle abuse and violence in Teesside schools

Paul Bristow, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland, expressed concern as official Government figures have revealed that over 1,000 pupils every school day are being suspended or expelled from schools for physical assaults, verbal abuse and threatening behaviour on both pupils and teachers.

Last year in Redcar & Cleveland there were over 30 expulsions for assaults and abuse and 580 suspensions.

Since 1997, Labour Government rules have deliberately made it more difficult for schools to expel pupils. This undermines the authority of head teachers and means that bullies and disruptive children end up back at the same school as their victims. Labour Ministers have also hindered teachers on 'human rights' grounds from searching and confiscating items which might cause violence or disruption in schools.

Conservatives are pledging to give teachers new powers to tackle violence, to introduce home-school contracts to improve behaviour, and to reform the flawed exclusions process which undermines head teachers.

Paul Bristow said: "Despite the hard work of our teachers, it is clear that we have a serious problem with discipline in our schools. Unless there is good discipline, pupils can't learn and teachers can't teach. The children who suffer most are the poorest and the country as a whole loses out when teachers' authority is undermined.

"A Conservative Government will raise standards in schools, giving teachers across Teesside the power to restore discipline. We need to mend our broken society by encouraging responsibility and backing those who do the right thing.''