§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to issue guidelines in respect of the protection of head teachers and teachers from violent pupils. [9773]
§ Mr. Robin SquireThe working group established by my right hon. Friend following the tragic murder of Philip Lawrence is considering urgently what more should be done to improve security in and around schools. Measures to protect school staff against violence —wherever it comes from—are a vital element in that work. DFEE circular 9/94, "The Education of Children with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties", already contains advice to schools on the physical containment of pupils, where this is necessary to prevent them causing harm to themselves or to others.