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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Teachers' rights law takes effect | Teachers' rights law takes effect |
| (2 days later) | |
| New legal powers for teachers and schools in England to restrain and discipline unruly pupils, even outside school, have come into effect. | |
| The law sets out teachers' right to break up fights and to confiscate items like mobile phones if misused. | |
| 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 also 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. | 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 have the right to physically restrain and remove unruly pupils, and impose detention, including sessions outside school hours and on Saturdays. | But the new law explicitly states that teachers have the right 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 came into force on 1 April. | |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Teachers are the last people I would give these powers to. Common_tater, Stafford Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Teachers are the last people I would give these powers to. Common_tater, Stafford Send us your comments |
| 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. |
| Meanwhile, ministers are also planning an advertising campaign aimed at tackling bullying via the internet and mobile phones. | Meanwhile, ministers are also planning an advertising campaign aimed at tackling bullying via the internet and mobile phones. |
| Research funded by the government estimates that a quarter of young people have experienced this sort of cyber bullying. | Research funded by the government estimates that a quarter of young people have experienced this sort of cyber bullying. |
| Shadow Schools Minister Nick Gibb said the new measures were a welcome step in the right direction. | |
| "We believe the government should have gone further to ensure that the authority of teachers is respected," he said. | |
| "They should reconsider their opposition to binding home-school contracts which would ensure that school discipline policies enjoy, at the very least, the acknowledgement of all parents." |