New guidance has been published by the government, which gives head teachers the power to file criminal charges against school children who make false accusations against teachers. It is thought that over a quarter of all teachers have faced false accusations from a pupil during their career. Under the current guidance, a teacher faces instant suspension if accused by a pupil. It will now be presumed that a teacher has behaved appropriately, until it has been proved otherwise.
The new guidance replaces previous guidelines set out by the Labour government, which consisted of 600 pages. The new document consists of only 50 pages, giving teachers the right to put disciplinary measures in place in order to keep control of the classroom. Michael Gove, the education secretary believes that children cannot learn in an environment where a teacher is not allowed to keep control and order. It has also been made possible for teachers to search mobile phones for inappropriate material.
Headteacher Charlie Taylor, who has a proven track record for improving levels of discipline at some of the worst schools in the United Kingdom, has been appointed as Expert Advisor on Behaviour. It is hoped that teachers will gain confidence in the knowledge that they are allowed to remove children who are disruptive from the classroom, without facing instant suspension. These measures may go some way to helping children learn in an environment which is conducive to study, as well as control the behaviour of unruly pupils.
