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| Teachers' rights law takes effect | Teachers' rights law takes effect |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| New legal powers for teachers and schools in England and Wales to restrain and discipline unruly pupils have come into effect. | New legal powers for teachers and schools in England and Wales to restrain and discipline unruly pupils have come into effect. |
| The law sets out teachers' right to break up fights and to confiscate items like mobile phones. | The law sets out teachers' right to break up fights and to confiscate items like mobile phones. |
| The changes are intended to put an end to what teachers' unions call the "You can't tell me what to do" culture. | The changes are intended to put an end to what teachers' unions call the "You can't tell me what to do" culture. |
| It is also hoped the legislation will help tackle cyber-bullying via mobiles and the internet. | |
| Restrain and remove | Restrain and remove |
| Previously, teachers had been allowed to restrain pupils under common law, with the same authority as parents. | |
| But the new law explicitly states that teachers to physically restrain and remove unruly pupils, and impose detention, including sessions outside school hours and on Saturdays. | |
| Teachers will be able to discipline pupils outside school too - if they see children behaving badly on public transport, for instance. | Teachers will be able to discipline pupils outside school too - if they see children behaving badly on public transport, for instance. |
| The new powers are enshrined in the 2006 Education and Inspections Act - much of which comes into force on 1 April. | The new powers are enshrined in the 2006 Education and Inspections Act - much of which comes into force on 1 April. |
| Ministers believe the common law powers are too vague. | Ministers believe the common law powers are too vague. |
| The general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Steve Sinnott, welcomed the changes, but said the government should do more to explain them to schools and to parents. | The general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Steve Sinnott, welcomed the changes, but said the government should do more to explain them to schools and to parents. |