HC Deb 20 July 2000 vol 354 cc292-3W
Mr. Coaker

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many teachers have been assaulted by(a) pupils and (b) others in school in each of the last six years; and if he will make a statement. [130978]

Ms Estelle Morris

This information is not available centrally.

Reports by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools have shown that most schools are orderly places, and Ofsted inspections show that violent or exceptionally malicious behaviour by pupils is fortunately rare.

My Department's Circular "Social Inclusion

Pupil Support" provides detailed guidance to schools on managing pupil behaviour and we have made clear that we support headteachers who permanently exclude violent pupils. In addition, our Circular on "The use of force to control or restrain pupils" makes clear that teachers have the right to defend themselves against an attack provided they do not use a disproportionate degree of force. We have also issued joint guidance with the Home Office on "School Security: Dealing with Troublemakers", which offers advice about, among other things, dealing with any assaults on teachers.