Schools are rocked by rise in violence

9:18am Monday 10th April 2006

MORE than 700 students have been expelled from Swindon schools since September for acts of violence.

Figures released under Freedom of Information laws show an average of six students a day being excluded for violent behaviour, including carrying weapons, fighting and attacks on teachers.

Children as young as six are being expelled for fighting and wounding both adults and school mates.

One six-year-old was expelled from Drove Primary School for eight days in January after a physical assault against another pupil.

A day later, a seven-year-old was expelled for five school days from Oliver Tomkins Infant School for assault against an adult.

Between the start of the school year last September and March 24 this year, 723 students were expelled from Swindon schools for violence.

In the 2004/2005 school year there were 1,289 exclusions, up from 1,196 in 2003/2004, including four permanently.

In March 2003, one eight-year-old was expelled from Goddard Park Primary School for carrying a weapon.

A week later, a 12-year-old student was permanently expelled from The Ridgeway School for the same offence.

Ten students were expelled from Swindon schools for being in possession of a weapon between November 11, 2002 and March 25, 2003.

Association of Teachers and Lecturers Swindon secretary Phil Baker said the figures were proof of the violence his members faced every day.

"The very sad thing is they don't surprise me at all," he said.

"It's everyday life in schools.

"There are increasing numbers of children who come from dysfunctional backgrounds. Their reaction is increasingly to lash out.

"My concern is for children who are being excluded what help is being given to help them with their problems? Psychologists have long waiting times. One or two day exclusions is often not enough.

"Children have to be made aware of the consequences."

Mr Baker said he had removed knives from three children in his teaching career.

"Students say it's for their own security," he said. "It's a real concern when a student thinks they need a knife to protect themselves."

He said his members wanted better early intervention and help for troublemakers.

"There are frustrations that help can't be got for youngsters in need, particularly for infants in need," Mr Baker said.

"I have a case of a member in an infants school who was bruised badly by a six-year-old. The level of violence that he used, there clearly was an underlying problem."

Mr Baker said the numbers of single-parent families meant teachers were often the first male authority figure young children came across.

"In secondary schools, the children do not show any respect for authority," he said.

"There has been a slow but steady increase in the amount of violence in our schools. There is a small but increasing minority who are causing serious concerns with violence. What is happening in the school is not caused in the school."

Swindon Council cabinet member for children's services, Garry Perkins, said the town's schools were safe.

He said Swindon had no more problems than any other town of its size, but there was better than average support for troubled children.

"The schools are very safe places," he said.

"The majority of the incidents would be of a very minor nature. One would like to see more powers handed back to the heads and teachers. If there's a problem with a young child, the parents need to be responsible."

Coun Perkins (Shaw and Nine Elms) said the council had support centres at three schools and another seven coming that would offer immediate access to social and health workers and parenting help.

"There is a problem," Coun Perkins said. "It's something the community as a whole has to deal with."

Director of services to children and young people, Geoff Hogg, said Swindon was leading the way to cut permanent exclusions.

He said permanent exclusions had dropped from 56 in 2001-2002 to a low of 21 in 2003-2004 before rising to 28 last school year.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Paul Jennings, of Swindon police, said: "Pupils and parents must be under no illusion that carrying an offensive weapon is a criminal offence, whether it is in school or not."

Parents are given too much power'

A TEACHING union is leading a battle to get rid of the idea of parent power.

The Association of Teachers and Lecturers, which begins its conference today, believes that the notion of parent power puts parents in opposition to those who teach their children.

The motion urging MPs to drop the term "parent power" has been proposed by Phil Baker, secretary of the Swindon ATL branch, who suffered post-traumatic stress syndrome after a physical assault by a parent.

Mr Baker, who began teaching in 1971, said parents have changed from being co-operative to demanding and aggressive.

Mr Baker was assistant head at Headlands School when he was attacked by a man who had come in to discuss his daughter's uniform.

The man was arrested, given a conditional discharge and had to pay £100 compensation to the school.

However the incident left Mr Baker so shaken that he left full-time teaching.

He said: "It was an extremely sad way to end my career at the school which I had loved and been happy to serve for so long.

"But sadly, locally and nationally, this is not an unusual occurrence."

Mr Baker will urge conference delegates to back a resolution calling for schools to prosecute in all assault cases.

Shortly after the incident at Headlands in 2002, Mr Baker addressed the conference in front of Estelle Morris, who was then Education Secretary.

Ms Morris promised to crack down on violent parents, but Mr Baker believes the message has yet to filter through to the courts.

The idea has received support from parent groups, but the Government has insisted it will not back down.

A spokesman for the Department of Education and Skills said: "We make no apology for encouraging parents to be more involved in their child's education, because we know this is the powerful influence on a child's progress."

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