Shock rise in school violence
THE number of pupils thrown out of school for violence against classmates has rocketed, according to new figures released today.
Conservative Party statistics claim the number of excluded pupils in Hartlepool has risen by 53 per cent.
Between 2005-06, a total of 62 students were excluded from school for assaulting fellow pupils.
From 2006-07, the figure rose by 53 per cent, with 95 reported incidents.
Hartlepool has seen the second biggest rise nationally in terms of percentages for that period.
But in comparison, the number of pupils excluded in the town is still the lowest in the region.
Nationally, more than 340 children are suspended for violence against other pupils every day in England.
Official data shows 65,390 pupils were temporarily excluded for violence against their classmates in 2006-7.
This figure is up 2,720 on the previous year and equals 344 suspensions per school day.
County Durham schools saw an 8.2 per cent drop in incidents of violence, though the number of incidents across the county totalled almost 600.
In Middlesbrough, the figure rose by 50 per cent.
Government chiefs have
defended the figures, stating that teachers are using "short, sharp shocks" to control children.
The percentage of permanent exclusions overturned on appeal is very small.
The figures also showed that students from disadvantaged areas were more likely to be given exclusions.
The Conservative party point to an increase of 4.3 per cent across the whole of England between
2005-2007.
Shadow children's minister Michael Gove said: "This is further evidence of the lack of discipline in our schools.
"It is vital that teachers are given control over the classroom so they can deal with bad behaviour before it escalates into violence."
Violence or threatened violence, along with sexual assault, supplying drugs and carrying weapons, is named in the government's behaviour guidelines as an offence that could warrant, in the head teacher's judgement, permanent exclusion for a first "one-off" offence.
A Hartlepool Borough Council spokesman said: "Our latest figures show the number of physical assaults against pupils was 51 between September 2007 and July 2008, the lowest level for three years.
"The council is committed to working in partnership with the town's secondary schools through the secondary behaviour and attendance partnership, established in September last year."
"It aims to reduce the number of exclusions in general and has proven very successful."
Email to a friend
Print this page- TRANSFER RUMOURS - Tuesday, May 22: Newcastle United, Sunderland, Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Barcelona, Wigan, QPR, West Ham and Blackpool
- TRANSFER RUMOURS: Monday, May 21 - Drogba, Man City, Spurs, Crunch talks for Torres, Hammers eye Cole, Hazard undecided
- TRANSFER RUMOURS - Thursday, May 24: Newcastle, Demba Ba, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City deny Tevez rumours, Man Utd, Porto
- VIDEO: 999 call police car ploughs into house
- Transfer Rumours May 23: Newcastle United, Sunderland, Arsenal, Manchester United, Everton, Blackburn, Tottenham and Wolves.
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Peterlee
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
