Fight Against Violence Should Start In Brent's Schools - Teather

7.01.08pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 23rd Feb 2007

Sarah Teather talks to local teachers

Local Liberal Democrat Brent MP Sarah Teather has uncovered statistics showing that 123 pupils in Brent were excluded for assaulting an adult in the last school year for which figures are available.

15 pupils were permanently excluded from schools in Brent for assaulting an adult in the school, the second highest number in any London borough. And as these figures only show cases where assaults led to exclusions, the actual number of attacks against teachers may be much higher.

Sarah is calling for a zero tolerance policy against violence in schools, and a publicity drive to encourage school staff who may have been victims of assault to come forward.

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East, Sarah Teather, said:

"We have many excellent teachers here in Brent. But it is impossible for teachers to control a class, let alone teach, when they are personally afraid of violent and threatening behaviour.

"As with patients who attack staff in A&E, pupils and parents have to understand that the law applies inside the school gates just the same as outside. Violent assaults against school staff are completely unacceptable.

"We must have a zero tolerance policy in schools. Teachers should not be afraid to come forward to report violent incidents, and the police must then prosecute.

"It is in school that young people learn the boundaries of acceptable behaviour. If we are serious about cutting out violence in Brent's communities, a good start would be to cut out violence in Brent's classrooms."

Related Link:

Read Sarah's parliamentary question in full.