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Nick Gibb MP, Minister for Schools, announced today that the Government would seek to:
- end the rule requiring schools to give 24 hours written notice for detentions
- allow heads and school staff to search pupils for legal highs, pornography, cigarettes, fireworks and personal electronic devices such as mobile phones, MP3 players and cameras, in addition to the alcohol, controlled drugs, and stolen property already planned for September. (Searches for knives or other weapons are already legal.)
- strengthen guidance and legislation if necessary surrounding use of force in the classroom
- give anonymity to teachers accused by pupils and take other measures to protect against false accusations.
Today’s announcement also states that the Government will issue simplified guidance about the use of force for safety or restraint. Schools should not have ‘no touch’ policies and teachers should feel able to use force when they need to.
That teachers feel able to enforce discipline without feeling at risk themselves is long overdue. Could this government be about to consign the whole concept of political correctness to the waste bin? It would be good to think that a teacher might again be able to stick a plaster on the leg of an injured pupil and parents might again be able to take a photo of their child performing on stage!
However, I hope teachers will use their search powers wisely. Pupils will obviously benefit from the increased security provided by any reduction in pornography, cigarettes and alcohol - but MP3 players, cameras and phones? Many parents will find the inclusion of these items rather perplexing. Most that I speak to think that the mobile has added a valuable layer of security and parental management and pupils certainly will not take kindly to being parted from their MP3 players.
I have no idea what is in the Minister’s mind, but I assume he is not proposing that schools should ban phones and music players. If schools do seek to move from the current position on electronic items, particularly with regard to mobiles, I for one would welcome a degree of consultation in advance.
What do you think?
you may not be aware but King Edwards only in the last four years allowed mobile phones and MP3 players, so i don’t believe the Minister is saying, as you title suggests, they should be banned but only saying that if they are in a certain school, they should be given the power to do so .
Thanks, I didn’t know that.
My point is only that parents have a rightful place in the debate. I don’t know what the position is in the other two schools??