Teachers’ right to discipline pupils and tackle bullying

21 November 2005

Commenting on the Government’s announcement today on teachers’ right to discipline pupils and enforce parents’ responsibility for their children’s behaviour, Steve Sinnott, NUT General Sectretary, said:

“I welcome the Government's commitment to clarify and strengthen the law on teachers' right to discipline pupils. A clear statutory definition of teachers’ authority, suited to today's education environment, will help in dealing with the minority of pupils who disrupt lessons, bully other pupils or display totally unacceptable behaviour.

“Whether schools will want to be involved in applying for parenting orders or £1,000 fines if such orders are not complied with is unclear. Head teachers may be willing to give evidence but they may not want to be the initiators of legal proceedings. That role should remain with the local authority.

“But all will be clearer when the Bill to implement these proposals is published and we hope the Government will take such concerns into account.”