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Sharp rise in school suspensions Behaviour experts to help schools
(about 3 hours later)
Many schools in England are repeatedly suspending pupils for short periods because it is too difficult to exclude them permanently, the Tories claim. Teams of behaviour experts will be sent into schools in England where behaviour is rated as satisfactory, Schools's Secretary Ed Balls has said.
The number of children excluded more than 10 times in a single year went up from 310 in 2004 to 837 in 2007, figures obtained by the party show. He says the government supports head teachers where they need to permanently exclude pupils.
The government denies the claim that its policies have made it harder for heads to permanently exclude pupils. Figures obtained by the Tories suggest the number of children repeatedly suspended for a fixed period is rising.
A government adviser is due to publish his final report on school discipline. Government behaviour adviser Sir Alan Steer is expected to say in a report that satisfactory "isn't good enough".
Permanent exclusions, sometimes referred to as expulsions, have been falling over recent years, and 8,680 pupils were excluded in this way in 2006-07. His final report on behaviour in schools is expected later on Wednesday.
The Conservatives claim the government has made it more difficult for schools to permanently exclude children, but Mr Balls denied this.
The number of children excluded more than 10 times in a single year went up from 310 in 2004 to 837 in 2007, the figures show.
Ill-discipline
Mr Balls told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that just under 30% of schools had a behaviour rating of satisfactory.
"If a school is rated satisfactory, and you look at the detail - I don't find it very satisfactory, to be honest.
"Sir Alan Steer is saying they should expect independent experts from the outside to go in to help the school to improve."
If a child has been seriously disruptive or violent, they should be properly removed Nick Gibb, shadow schools ministerIf a child has been seriously disruptive or violent, they should be properly removed Nick Gibb, shadow schools minister
Fixed-term exclusions, commonly known as suspensions, are rising. Where weak leadership was not tackling discipline, it would be challenged, he said.
"Let's use the powers so we can say to parents 'there will not be ill-discipline disrupting your children's education'."
Permanent exclusions, sometimes referred to as expulsions, have been falling over recent years, and 8,680 pupils were excluded in this way in 2006-07.
But fixed-term exclusions, commonly known as suspensions, are rising.
There were 425,600 fixed-term exclusions of pupils of all ages in 2006-07.There were 425,600 fixed-term exclusions of pupils of all ages in 2006-07.
The majority of exclusions are given to secondary school pupils - and these rose between 2003 and 2007.The majority of exclusions are given to secondary school pupils - and these rose between 2003 and 2007.
By the end of 2007, there had been 363,270 suspensions given to secondary school pupils - up from 288,040 in the school year 2003-04.By the end of 2007, there had been 363,270 suspensions given to secondary school pupils - up from 288,040 in the school year 2003-04.
Early interventionEarly intervention
During the last academic year, 837 pupils had been suspended more than 10 times, according to answers given to the Conservatives by 125 county and London boroughs.
In 2003-04, the corresponding figure was 310.
Shadow schools minister Nick Gibb said: "Suspending a child from school over and over again does them no good at all.Shadow schools minister Nick Gibb said: "Suspending a child from school over and over again does them no good at all.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
"If a child has been seriously disruptive or violent, they should be properly removed so they can get the specialist help they need to return to mainstream education.""If a child has been seriously disruptive or violent, they should be properly removed so they can get the specialist help they need to return to mainstream education."
Schools secretary Ed Balls said one or two short suspensions could help a child get back on track but accepted that a child who is repeatedly suspended should be expelled. Mr Balls said one or two short suspensions could help a child get back on track but accepted that a child who is repeatedly suspended should be expelled.
The government's behaviour adviser, Sir Alan Steer, is due to report on how to tackle poor discipline in schools later. "Every parent wants their child to learn - the powers are there.
He will say that schools and teachers are not using the full range of powers available to them to discipline badly behaved pupils. "All of us, government, parents and governing bodies need to do more to back teachers to keep discipline in the classroom.
Sir Alan Steer's report will say schools and teachers are not using the full range of powers available to them to discipline badly behaved pupils.
The government and teaching professionals need to "raise awareness of the range of powers among schools, parents, pupils and teachers, including in particular the statutory power to discipline", he will say.The government and teaching professionals need to "raise awareness of the range of powers among schools, parents, pupils and teachers, including in particular the statutory power to discipline", he will say.
His report is expected to recommend the use of "withdrawal rooms" or other alternative provision.His report is expected to recommend the use of "withdrawal rooms" or other alternative provision.
If you expel the pupil and then they are out on the streets or in the parks, it's a different kind of problem for society and that's not good enough Ed Balls, Schools Secretary If you expel the pupil and then they are out on the streets or in the parks, it's a different kind of problem for society and that's not good enough Ed Balls, schools secretary
And he will call on schools to ensure parenting contracts are used where necessary.And he will call on schools to ensure parenting contracts are used where necessary.
Mr Balls said he had produced a leaflet together with the Nasuwt union to set out the powers available to teachers to discipline.
'Work together'
Sir Alan will say that school provision out of the classroom should be used as part of a planned early intervention strategy and, if possible, before incidents of serious misbehaviour occur.Sir Alan will say that school provision out of the classroom should be used as part of a planned early intervention strategy and, if possible, before incidents of serious misbehaviour occur.
If a child is permanently excluded from school, there can be an appeal to an independent panel to try to be reinstated.If a child is permanently excluded from school, there can be an appeal to an independent panel to try to be reinstated.
The Conservatives say they would abolish these panels.The Conservatives say they would abolish these panels.
They also say that potential fines for permanently excluding badly-behaved pupils mean schools are choosing to repeatedly exclude for a fixed period instead.They also say that potential fines for permanently excluding badly-behaved pupils mean schools are choosing to repeatedly exclude for a fixed period instead.
Schools Secretary Ed Balls said discipline in schools has improved in the last few years but where there were problems, teachers should be tougher and have the support of governors and parents. Mr Balls said discipline in schools has improved in the last few years but where there were problems, teachers should be tougher and have the support of governors and parents.
"If you expel the pupil and then they are out on the streets or in the parks, it's a different kind of problem for society and that's not good enough," he said."If you expel the pupil and then they are out on the streets or in the parks, it's a different kind of problem for society and that's not good enough," he said.
"These kids should be in education and so we are also saying to schools work together even if a pupil is excluded. "These kids should be in education and so we are also saying schools should work together even if a pupil is excluded."
"Parents have got a job to keep them off the streets, let's not have them hanging out in the streets."
He also said the report would looked at bad behaviour beyond the school gates, including on buses.
BBC education correspondent Kim Catcheside said the report was aimed at making more teachers aware of the powers available to them, rather than outlining any new powers.
The report would also encourage schools with weaker discipline records to follow the lead of stronger schools, she added.The report would also encourage schools with weaker discipline records to follow the lead of stronger schools, she added.
'Lost teaching'
A survey of teachers has suggested five weeks of teaching a year is lost to teachers because of poor behaviour in the classroom.A survey of teachers has suggested five weeks of teaching a year is lost to teachers because of poor behaviour in the classroom.
The NASUWT teaching union, at its annual conference in Bournemouth, said on average 50 minutes of teaching was lost per teacher per day. The Nasuwt teaching union, at its annual conference in Bournemouth, said on average 50 minutes of teaching was lost per teacher per day.
It surveyed 10,000 members last month and found "significant amounts of teaching time are lost every day as a result of disruptive or poor behaviour by pupils".
Much of this disruption is low-level annoyance, teachers said - such as arguments between pupils, a refusal to pay attention or being unready to start a lesson.
The government said temporary exclusions could be used as a "quick shock" to prevent behaviour getting worse. And it said that behaviour in schools was improving.
England's children's minister Delyth Morgan said: "Schools also have firm powers to permanently exclude pupils where needed, even for a first offence.
"We have repeatedly stated that a teacher's authority must be absolute in the classroom and support heads where they take the difficult decision to exclude.
"It is nonsense to suggest that there is a problem with independent appeals panels overturning exclusions. Only 1% of exclusions are overturned with pupils being reinstated."
It was right to give parents a fair right of appeal, she said.