400 pupils are kicked out for violent threats

August 03, 2006

MORE than 400 pupils have been excluded from Salford secondary schools for threatening or attacking staff.

And 95 pupils were kicked out for physically assaulting an adult in cases that included "violent behaviour, wounding and obstruction and jostling".

The shocking figures, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by our sister paper the Salford Advertiser, reveal that there were 413 temporary or permanent bans issued last year for abusive behaviour.

They also show 318 exclusions for threatening staff with violence, swearing, and carrying an offensive weapon.

Most offenders were banned for a specific period but 23 were permanently kicked out.

The council's education chief, John Warmisham, condemned the behaviour and said schools would not hesitate to use permanent exclusions if required.

He said: "If that is the only option a school has then it's got to be used because we cannot accept that type of behaviour from young people in Salford.

Incidents

"We hope that when they are excluded they will reflect on what they have done and realise they can't behave like that."

Coun Warmisham said many of the incidents were a result of issues away from the classroom.

He said: "In some cases, young people will be having problems in their personal life and then it explodes in school and we hope that pastoral care teachers can pick up on that and if possible help."

Nick Kokkinis, from the Nation Union of Teachers, said: "We are aware that there have been as greater number of these types of incidents involving violence over the past two or three years.

"We need to keep it in proportion - it's not common place in every school. But there needs to be consultation between pupils, parents, the LEA and the police to try to minimise the problem."

A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills said: "While assaults on teachers are rare, they should not happen at all. Violence will not be tolerated, and we fully back headteachers' tough decisions to remove or prosecute anyone - whether parent or pupil - who is behaving in an aggressive way.

"Pupils face permanent exclusion for violent offences and we have tightened guidelines to make it clear that we would not expect governing bodies or appeal panels to reinstate pupils.

"New sentencing guidelines also make it a more serious offence to assault those working in the public sector."

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DJ, Salford (03/08/2006 at 16:54)

The difficulty schools have is that every time a student is permanently excluded the school is then expected to admit a student who has been permanently excluded from another school. This is just moving the problem on rather than looking at the causes of it. In addition, the government's new pay structure does not financially recognise the work of teachers in a pastoral capacity, only in the teaching and learning capacity. It is yet another example of how academic results are seen as more important than the overall education of our young people. The system is badly flawed.

Tracy, Salford (03/08/2006 at 18:27)

I totally agree that these low lifes should be expelled for violent behaviour to adults. It's a pity that the rest cannot be expelled for violence to other pupils, as these assaults are not taken as seriously.

R, Manchester (03/08/2006 at 21:22)

Well its Salford say no more. too many scallies and heeyar muppets

PW, Manchester (04/08/2006 at 14:50)

Because there appears to be enough of them, they could have a "Special" school all of their own. Perhaps eventually, they'll all live in a separate confined neighbourhood, where their activities wouldn't bother anyone else, despite what they do. Just dreaming again.

Colin W, Stockholm (07/08/2006 at 07:10)

remove them from the gene pool for good. Todays 'poor children from a bad upbringing' are tomorrows muggers and drug dealers

James, Mystic CT USA (07/08/2006 at 17:57)

Before moving south I lived in Vermont US. It shares a border with Canada so you can imagine the winter weather. They had a program for kids who had been booted out of school and broke the law they call it Hoods in the Woods. These kids were made to survive in camps which they had to build and maintain, provide firewood for cooking and heating and provide everything for themselves. No tv phone or visitors.
Only the main cabin had electrict lights and running water. They were forced to farm there own food tend animals clear snow with one small tractor that they had to maintain. There were very few attempts to escape because of its remote location.
The best part is they do not leave until the have their school diploma. My wife is a middle scool principle and she had the oppurtunity to visit the place and was very impressed with the self reliance and duty to community that these kids drum into one another. Maybe these types of farm/schools could be used instead of shuffling these kids from one school to another.

Dr Yaakov Wise, Manchester University (08/08/2006 at 12:22)

As a part-time supply teacher who works regularly in Salford I can't say that the kids there are much worse than those in other cities such as Manchester. It is not Salford per se that is the problem it is the lack of a stable two parent family, poor diet, inadequate exercise and play facilities and an upbringing that does not emphasise respect for everyone, regardless of age, gender or race. Many of these kids misbehave because they are attention seeking and they know that if they are rude or abusive, an adult will respond to this. What they really need are attentive parents and families that share activities.

Andy, Wythenshawe (08/08/2006 at 12:57)

Once again an example of our society where too many kids are brought up by the 'streets' instead of their parents. This will not stop until parents take an active role in the upbringing of their kids instead of dumping them on the street ... out of sight, out of mind, allowing the scum in our communities to have a bigger impact on their lives than their parents do.

Colin W, Stockholm (09/08/2006 at 08:48)

Andy, Wythenshawe is right. Too many parents today are happy to 'knock out' a few kids then leave it to the State to bring them up.

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