HC Deb 08 May 1990 vol 172 cc45-6W
Ms. Armstrong

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what action his Department is taking to encourage the national curriculum council to examine ways of integrating the teaching of non-violent conflict resolution into specific subject or project ideas;

(2) what measures he is taking to ensure that human rights education takes place throughout the schools system;

(3) what account Her Majesty's inspectors of schools are taking of the recommendation contained in the report "Violence and Conflict Resolution in Schools" concerning the implementation of human rights education.

Mrs. Rumbold

The requirement for a balanced and broad based curriculum which promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils, as set out in section 1 of the Education Reform Act, represents an effective framework for the provision of human rights education. HMI will, as a priority, be looking at all pupils' access to the whole curriculum. The National Curriculum council proposes to issue curriculum guidance to schools covering a range of cross-curriculum themes, including citizenship, which contribute to the personal and social education of all pupils.

Ms. Armstrong

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps his Department is taking to ensure that teacher training courses in classroom management include aspects relating to problem solving, interpersonal relations, conflict resolution and mediation.

Mr. Alan Howarth

My right hon. Friend has provided that as regards in-service training the management of pupil behaviour has been designated as a national priority area within the local education authority training grants scheme, attracting the higher rate of grant on expenditure of up to £1.7 million in 1990–91. In addition, the revised criteria for the approval of initial teacher training courses which he introduced with effect from 1 January 1990 provide that all such courses should include compulsory and clearly identifiable elements of practical training in the management of pupil behaviour. It is for the course providers to decide on the content of these courses with the objective of achieving good standards of classroom behaviour.

Ms. Armstrong

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) when he received the report "Violence and Conflict Resolution in Schools" published by the council for cultural co-operation of the Council of Europe in July 1989, and what response he proposes to make to the recommendation on the teaching of non-violent conflict resolution as part of the curriculum;

(2) what assessment he has made of the contribution to the recommendations of the report "Violence and Conflict Resolution in Schools" by the council of cultural co-operation of the Council of Europe 1989 could make to tackling the problems of aggression, violence and vandalism in schools.

Mr. Alan Howarth

My right hon. Friend received a copy of the report last January. The report has not been forwarded formally to Governments, but is still under study within the Council of Europe. The report will contribute to the continuing debate on this important matter and my right hon. Friend will be interested to see the Council's comments once its work has been completed.