Oral Answers to Questions

David Amess Excerpts

Monday 3rd December 2012 Commons Chamber

[Elizabeth Truss]

The timetable is imminent.

[Mr David Amess (Southend West) (Con)]

4. What steps he is taking to improve discipline in schools.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Elizabeth Truss)]

We are taking decisive action to equip teachers to restore discipline in schools. No longer can a decision to exclude pupils be undermined by an appeal panel against the best interests of a school and other students in it. We are also strengthening the law so that teachers can issue same-day detentions.

[Mr Amess]

What steps is my hon. Friend taking to ensure that head teachers are able to exclude pupils whose behaviour becomes unacceptable, and what help is then given to those pupils?

[Elizabeth Truss]

We are making sure that the ultimate decision on exclusion is made by a school governing body. Under the previous Government, appeals panels had the final say and 810 permanently excluded pupils were reinstated in schools between 2002 and 2010. We are encouraging schools to take an interest in the long-term education of those students who are excluded and we are trialling approaches so that they take an interest.