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    16 November, 2005

    School Discipline

    I brought up this issue with the Education Minister Jane Davidson yesterday - it was one of a number of matters I discussed with Secondary School Heads in the Rhondda last week.

    Jane Davidson: I do not say that discipline is not a problem in schools. I have engaged with the unions over a number of years, looking at ways to enhance our guidance in terms of support for teachers. The practitioners’ group, which wrote the ‘Learning Behaviour’ report, has asked for further power to clarify the arrangement in one legal requirement, in terms of teachers’ powers. So, it is an issue that we have already indicated that we are happy to look at.

    However, I would point out that, when the chief inspector came to committee, for example, she did not say that issues around discipline were a major problem in Welsh schools, which is why I say that we have to look at evidence. Schools already have a substantial number of powers to ensure that, if a child is affecting other children’s learning, he or she can be removed as appropriate from the classroom, and that is reflected in the figures that you have just announced.

    Leighton Andrews: I was discussing this issue with secondary headteachers in my local school on Friday. I think that they would agree that the Welsh Assembly Government guidance is pretty clear on teachers’ powers but, in some areas, such as the question of the presumption of guilt if a teacher intervenes, they think that perhaps—and this may be a matter, as you have said, to look at it in the context of possible forthcoming legislation—there may need to be greater clarity in future.

    Jane Davidson: There are some key issues around the anonymity of professionals who are accused, who work with children. We have been looking closely at that issue with our colleagues in Westminster.

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    Promoted by Leighton Andrews AM, National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff CF99 1NA.

    Author's editorial policy: This blog does not publish anonymous comments, unless they are really witty and I like them. If you have something to say, then have the courage of your convictions and use your name or an identifiable alias. Even then I reserve the right not to publish comments that are malicious, defamatory, stupid, pointlessly cynical or boring. Any of the statements or comments made above should be regarded as personal and not necessarily those of the National Assembly for Wales, any constituent part or connected body.