§ Mrs. Ann WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what recent assessment she has made of the impact of disciplinary problems on standards in schools. [75284]
Mr. TwiggStandards in schools have risen rapidly since 1997. This year 51 per cent. of secondary pupils achieved five or more A* to CGCSEs compared to 45 per cent. five years ago. But OFSTED report that bad behaviour disrupts education in one in 12 secondary and one in 50 primary schools. We are implementing a wide range of measures to tackle that problem, including a £50 million Behaviour Improvement Programme that is providing intensive support for schools facing the most challenging behaviour.
§ Mr. LilleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what plans she has to increase the powers of teachers to deal with indiscipline in schools. [75290]
Mr. TwiggHeadteachers already have the power to exclude pupils from school on disciplinary grounds by virtue of section 64 of the SchoolStandards and Framework Act 1998. That power has been re-enacted in section 52(1) and (2) of the Education Act 2002. We aim to commence section 52 and regulations under that section which will improve the working of exclusion appeal panels on 1 January 2003.
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