§ 17. Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on discipline in schools. [887]
§ Mr. TimmsI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for Canterbury (Mr. Brazier).
291WPupil behaviour is a major issue that will be included in a forthcoming White Paper. We are also keeping the exclusions process under regular review.
§ 30. Mr. ForthTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what meetings she has arranged with Ofsted to discuss standards of discipline in schools. [901]
§ Mr. TimmsWe meet Ofsted regularly. Standards of discipline and behaviour in schools are important aspects of school standards, and an important part of continuing discussions with Ofsted.
§ Mr. BrazierTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to introduce proposals designed to improve discipline in schools. [872]
§ Mr. TimmsWe strongly support heads in maintaining order in schools, including using exclusion where necessary. We are providing over 1,000 learning support units and 4,000 learning mentors to support teachers in maintaining order. We will be consulting on a wider use of parenting orders to ensure that parents take responsibility for their children's behaviour at school.