Collins: Concern for teachers

The Conservatives are calling for new legislation to protect teachers who are accused of abuse by their pupils.

Tim Collins used a Commons debate to say that the scales of justice were "weighted terribly" against those who work in Britain's schools.

The shadow education secretary urged backing for "a statutory guarantee that their anonymity will be preserved, at least until the point when a formal criminal charge is brought in a court of law".

He highlighted the case of an Isle of Wight headteacher who committed suicide after allegations of abuse were made against him.

And a Peterborough teaching assistant, who was acquitted of all charges, was suspended for nine months after a malicious assault accusation.

"Teachers are harassed, insulted, and attacked every day in our schools," Collins said.

"One is assaulted every seven minutes. Yet the scales of justice are weighted terribly against them."

Violent

He added that a teacher who tries to restrain a violent pupil or break up a fight "may face suspension or even the end of his career".

"If a child chooses to utter the word 'abuse', the teacher will face a presumption of guilt not innocence - and may find their professional and personal lives utterly ruined.

"The vast majority of teachers accused of abuse are subsequently cleared - but the strain and stress involved, which often includes being spat at in the street and having homes and cars attacked, means that the incidence of suicide among teachers facing this vile accusation is alarmingly high.

"It is hardly surprising in these circumstances that discipline in our schools is declining just as rapidly as stress levels among teachers reaches record highs.

"How can anyone impose order in our classrooms if they know that any single child uttering one single word could finish their careers?"

Collins urged "immediate legislation" to allow greater anonymity for teachers involved in such cases.

"Ministers sadly refuse to act on this persistent demand from the teaching unions, choosing instead to rely solely on guidelines from the Association of Chief Police Officers and a voluntary agreement with local newspapers," he said.

"This will not give teachers remotely the protections they need."