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Parents to get discipline warning Schools told pupils must behave
(1 day later)
Measures to improve behaviour in school and tackle bullying are expected to be announced by Schools Secretary Ed Balls at the Labour Party conference. A "behaviour challenge" has been issued to the one in five secondary schools in England where inspectors say pupils' behaviour is not good enough.
Parents in England will be given a leaflet warning they are responsible for their children's behaviour. The government says that if they do not ensure pupils behave they face external intervention.
"Parents want their children to go to an orderly school with a strong head teacher who won't tolerate bullying or disruptive behaviour," he will say. Schools Secretary Ed Balls told the Labour Party conference parents would be reminded they must support schools.
His speech follows Gordon Brown's pledge to reduce anti-social behaviour. He also announced a review of the provisions to prevent the promotion of racism in schools.
Mr Balls is set to emphasise the importance of discipline in schools - and the rights and responsibilities of pupils, parents and teachers. 'Parents crucial'
Powers Mr Balls said he was concerned about behaviour because of a correlation with improving overall standards.
"We will back head teachers, and expect all parents to back teachers too, so they have the confidence to use their powers to the full so they can get on and teach and all children can learn," he will tell the conference. He was responding to a lengthy inquiry by the government's behaviour expert, former head teacher Sir Alan Steer, who reported in part that schools were failing to make use of the powers they had already been given to tackle problem pupils.
Parents will be given a leaflet warning them of the sanctions that can be brought against them - including the use of parenting orders - if they fail to control their children's behaviour. Sir Alan also said children who disrupted classes should be isolated so they do not disturb classmates.
Mr Balls has already promised behaviour experts will be sent to into all schools in England where inspectors say that behaviour is only "satisfactory". Currently the inspectorate Ofsted says that about 80% of secondary schools have behaviour which is good or better.
Earlier this year the government's behaviour expert Sir Alan Steer said schools were failing to make use of the powers they have already been given to tackle problem pupils. The government wants all to be in those categories by 2012.
Sir Alan also said children who disrupt classes should be isolated so they do not disturb classmates. "Parents also play a crucial role and have a responsibility to support their school's behaviour policy," Mr Balls said.
Mr Balls is also expected to promise legislation setting out further requirements for councils to find suitable places for children who have been removed from mainstream classes. "Today we are strengthening our message to parents and pupils that disruption by the few will not be tolerated because teachers have all the legal powers they need to get tough on bad behaviour.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown promised there would be no cuts in school spending in England for the next five years - and Mr Balls is set to challenge the Conservatives over education spending. "Parents must challenge their child's school if they feel learning is being disrupted and good behaviour is not a priority.
"We are not going to cut investment in schools and Sure Start; we are not going to make cuts to frontline services that mean fewer teachers and teaching assistants. And we are not going to pay for an inheritance tax cut for the wealthy few by cutting investment in our children's future," Mr Balls will tell Labour delegates. "I hope that the new advice for parents will give them the confidence to push their school to be the best on behaviour."
Teachers' representatives welcomed his remarks.
Racism
On the issue of racism, Mr Balls has asked former chief inspector Maurice Smith to present a report by next January.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families said the review would consider:
  • Whether existing safeguards are sufficient
  • Whether there is a case for further measures to maintain trust in the teaching profession and protect children from indoctrination and discrimination - particularly, whether affiliation to an organisation that promotes racism should be grounds for barring
  • Whether safeguards should extend more widely across the school workforce.
BNP teacher ban 'to be examined'
'Bankrupt'
Mr Balls also repeatedly attacked his Tory shadow, Michael Gove, for "running down the hard work of our students and teachers" and planning cuts.
Mr Gove responded that his "epically underwhelming speech" had revealed just how bankrupt Labour education policy was.
"He had no new policy to announce. On discipline, he still won't give teachers the powers they need to keep order in the classroom.
"On spending his main proposal is to sack 3,000 deputy head teachers," he said.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown promised there would be no cuts in school investment in England for the next five years.
This seemed to contradict what Mr Balls had said recently about being able to find savings of £2bn in his department's budget - in part because federations of schools would need fewer leaders.
On Wednesday Mr Balls told the party conference: "We are not going to cut investment in schools and Sure Start, we are not going to mandate cuts to frontline services that mean fewer teachers and teaching assistants".