'Remove pupils' for bad behaviour

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/7809801.stm

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The Scottish Conservatives have called for a "get tough" approach to bad behaviour in schools.

They want the most difficult offenders to be removed from the classroom and sent to "second chance units" with zero tolerance for indiscipline.

The youngsters would not be allowed to return to school until they have demonstrated they can behave better.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said it was committed to tackling the minority who were violent in school.

Conservative schools spokeswoman Liz Smith MSP claimed there was support for "a much more radical approach" among parents and teachers, as well as from some police and members of the armed services.

These pupils should be removed from the schools where they are causing mayhem Elizabeth Smith MSP

The Tory MSP said that while there was a "small minority" of persistent troublemakers in schools, the number of such pupils was growing.

She added: "We can kid ourselves no longer - poor discipline is a major problem in far too many schools across the country. There has to be a much stronger line.

"It cannot be right that these pupils are allowed to remain in mainstream classes disrupting the education of the well-behaved majority and making life a misery for their teachers.

"It may not be fashionable to say so, but these pupils should be removed from the schools where they are causing mayhem. They should not be allowed to return to mainstream education until they show that they can behave properly."

Ms Smith said similar units had been a "huge success" in many parts of Europe and the US.

She added the regime in the units "would be one of zero tolerance - strict, firm and fair".

But she stated they would also give badly behaved pupils "a chance to re-focus their lives".

A Scottish Government spokeswoman responded: "We know the majority of pupils are well behaved.

"However, a minority are not and any violence against school staff or other pupils is completely unacceptable.

"This government is committed to supporting schools to create and maintain peaceful and positive learning environments.

"The next national behaviour in schools survey, which we have already started to commission, will be more extensive and provide results in 2009.

"The survey will be improved to provide even clearer evidence on serious indiscipline and violence in schools."