Taken from the Telegraph ‘How teachers should be able to punish unruly pupils‘, the guidelines on how teachers will be able to punish pupils under a new crackdown.
* Teachers have the legal power to discipline pupils misbehaving outside school - including punishing them for fighting, bullying or being rowdy on buses or trains.
* Schools should draw up a clear framework on behaviour. Reasonable punishments include one-to-one admonishment, removal from class, banning access to computers, banning pupils from school trips and forcing them to carry out a “useful task” in the school.
* Pupils can be put on detention with 24 hours written notice to parents. Parents cannot over-rule the decision.
* Teachers can legally confiscate items from pupils - and dispose of them - including mobile phones and MP3 players if used during classes and baseball caps if pupils refuse to take them off.
* Staff have powers to search pupils’ clothes, bags and lockers for weapons and powers will be extended to alcohol, drugs and stolen goods.
* Teachers can use “reasonable force” to restrain pupils.
* Schools should consider setting up “withdrawal rooms” in which children are placed for short periods to calm down away from classmates.
* Parents can be held accountable with parenting contracts if their children repeatedly misbehave at school. Fixed penalty fines of £50 and £100 can be issued for parents of children playing truant.
Is this enough power to handle unruly children or is more drastic action needed, have your say.