Knife crackdown in schools
Headteachers may be given powers to search pupils for knives as part of a package of proposals to improve school discipline.
Currently, headteachers have to call in the police to if they suspect a pupil of carrying a knife, but would be able to perform the search themselves under new plans.
Education Secretary Charles Clarke also set out proposals to ensure all schools take their fair share of previously excluded pupils.
And all schools would have to publish a statement of expectations on behaviour that would include a zero tolerance approach to verbal or physical abuse of staff.
Mr Clarke told a conference of headteachers he was working with the Home Secretary David Blunkett on measures to tackle knives in schools, further details of which will be announced later in the year.
The problem of pupils carrying knives was brought into focus by the murder of Luke Walmsley in November 2003, who was stabbed by a fellow pupil at the Birkbeck School in North Somercotes, Lincolnshire.
Heads would also be able to request unannounced police searches to further detect and deter knives in schools.
“Most pupils never carry knives, either in or out of school. But there are a few who ignore the fact that it is against the law to have a knife in school. This unacceptable, and no school should tolerate it,” said Mr Clarke.
John Dunford, general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association, welcomed the proposal. “Heads of some schools are reporting a growing tendency for pupils to carry knives and increased search powers are necessary and welcome. This gives heads the power to deal with these difficult situations quickly and effectively,” he said.
The Education Secretary unveiled plans to stop excessive concentrations of previously excluded pupils in just a few schools. Limits would be placed on the number of excluded pupils that each school would have to admit and allocations of problem pupils would be decided locally through Admissions Forums.
Schools would also be encouraged to pool behaviour support funding, work in partnerships to provide for pupils at risk of exclusion, and work with local education authorities to cater for those who are excluded.
Mr Clarke said: “I expect head teachers to promote good behaviour in their schools, but where they judge it necessary, they have every right to exercise permanent exclusion. However when excluded children are deemed ready to be readmitted to a new school, it is important that Heads do not have to take more than their fair share of challenging or excluded pupils, simply because they have places available.”
Mr Clarke also committed to consult on a national investigation process for allegations made against teachers by pupils, and to publish proposals in the new year to make teachers feel more confident about taking children on school trips.
