Pupils suspended for bullying, booze, theft and violence (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Pupils suspended for bullying, booze, theft and violence
9:00am Monday 13th February 2012 in News
HUNDREDS of Swindon schoolchildren are being suspended or expelled for violent attacks on adults and other pupils, figures show.
Misdemeanours over the past three academic years include assaults along with bullying, alcohol, sexual misconduct, drugs, theft and racism.
Children at infant schools were responsible for the bad behaviour along with older pupils of junior and secondary age.
Headteachers suspended 45 pupils for physical attacks on adults last year and 229 for violence aimed at their peers. But only five children were excluded for assaults, information released by Swindon Council under the Freedom of Information Act shows.
Schools also suspended 12 pupils for racism, 17 for sexual misconduct, 14 for alcohol, 24 for drugs and 28 for theft. Another 17 were sent home for bullying.
Isambard Community School issued the most suspensions, with 133 students sent home for fixed terms, followed by Dorcan Technology College with 126.
Eastrop Infants School, in Highworth, suspended three pupils, while Wroughton Infants and Tregoze Primary in Grange Park sent home one child each.
There is no suggestion any of the schools have a problem with discipline. The average length of suspension was 2.3 days.
The council would not name schools where pupils had been expelled, citing the Data Protection Act.
Coun David Renard, cabinet member for children’s services, responded to the figures by saying he believed discipline had improved, though headteachers would ultimately have to answer for their own policies.
“My sense is that we are making progress,” he said.
“There has been change in the legislation which means teachers are less afraid to intervene physically if they have to and that’s helping, because they have the tools to enable them to deal with issues.
“Bullying is also being tackled pro-actively through the Swindon Youth Forum and most schools are signed up to the anti-bullying charter, which includes performances and role plays among different initiatives to tackle the issue.”
Coun Renard referred to arrangements in place to ensure both excluded pupils and their peers were able to continue their studies.
“In terms of expulsions we have a panel made up of council officers and headteachers and their assistants which meets up every two weeks and has procedures in place for excluded pupils to continue their education at alternative schools or at pupil referral units.
“This is having a positive impact, particularly in secondary schools, and is good for young people and good for the schools.
“It is not about sweeping the issue under the carpet and enabling these pupils to disrupt their peers in other classes, it is about moving these individuals, where necessary, to other environments where there are opportunities to overcome their issues.”
The overall number of suspensions was 940 in 2010/11, compared to 1,048 the year before. The level of exclusions also dipped from 17 to 10. But suspensions for alcohol rose from four to 14 and physical assaults on other pupils increased from 215 to 229.
Comments(37)
LordAshOfTheBrake
says...
9:10am Mon 13 Feb 12
How many were repeat offenders?
A.Baron-Cohen
says...
10:04am Mon 13 Feb 12
express_a_view
says...
10:11am Mon 13 Feb 12
i) It gives a clear message to the offender of the school's disapproval;
ii) It alerts parents to the fact there is a serious problem;
iii) It means the poor behaviour is formally recorded; and
iii) It often gives victims, who are the most deserving of protection, a period of recovery from someone who may have caused them angst.
Hence, Robfm, 2 to 3 days is a perfectly reasonable period. It is somewhat odd that we have those who will bemoan lack of discipline in schools and then imply something is wrong when headteachers impose it.
Robfm
says...
10:19am Mon 13 Feb 12
Ergo no ill discipline no need to exclude/suspend.
express_a_view
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10:27am Mon 13 Feb 12
Smokin Joe
says...
10:41am Mon 13 Feb 12
Hmmmf
says...
10:43am Mon 13 Feb 12
.
But of course we couldn't expect the Adver to put things into their proper perspective. No. Instead we get meaningless numbers derived over 3 years, including infant schools, and sensational headlines eliciting nonsense comments like erecting a "wall of shame in the Town centre."
.
Never mind the fact that the figures the Adver quotes include children well under the age of criminal responsibility, never mind the fact that young persons' identities are protected by law in criminal proceedings let alone getting caught copping a feel behind the bike shed, let's publicly "name them and shame them all" eh? The Daily Mail would be proud.
express_a_view
says...
10:48am Mon 13 Feb 12
Smokin Joe
says...
10:57am Mon 13 Feb 12
Robfm
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11:15am Mon 13 Feb 12
If there wasn't one there would be no need to ban anyone.
Aside from the fact that many pupils will seek to get excluded, which is why there are elements within the teaching profession who believe exclusion is a relatively easy option.
Hiram.K.Hackenbacker
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11:18am Mon 13 Feb 12
Robfm
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11:29am Mon 13 Feb 12
cherryblossom
says...
12:14pm Mon 13 Feb 12
vertiser.co.uk/news/
local/9449563.School
_hopes_to_win_bullyi
ng_free_status/
Isambard.....Mmmm not the best school in Swindon to be fair and applying for bully free status is the biggest joke going....all they do is brush it under the carpet and pretend it's not happening!
express_a_view
says...
12:16pm Mon 13 Feb 12
Hiriam - some schools nationally have tried your idea. For some students it worked. Others did not turn up - often with parental support. What is the solution for them? Exclusion?
The issue actually is a complex one - there are no quick fix solutions. If there were someone would have found them.
It is though worth bearing in mind that the overwhelming majority of youngsters who receive an exclusion do have sufficient self-pride to see it as a stain on their character. In these instances, the majority, exclusions do work.
Where I agree with Hiriam is that the greatest challenge resides with those for whom nothing bothers them. Thankfully, this sub-group is very small in number.
LordAshOfTheBrake
says...
12:19pm Mon 13 Feb 12
Which the idea would work in principle, do you really think the kids in question would actually turn up and do you think their parents care enough to ensure they do?
Most teachers complain enough at having to work the hours they do as it is. Who's going to run the extra school sessions?
Highworth Lad
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12:20pm Mon 13 Feb 12
Robfm
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12:23pm Mon 13 Feb 12
Whilst some saw them as barbaric, most pupils of the era were really influenced by them, so as not to misbehave.
who dat?
says...
12:23pm Mon 13 Feb 12
A.Baron-Cohen
says...
2:43pm Mon 13 Feb 12
The problem isn't with the children, it is with the parents being unable to be good parents....they shouldn't be rewarded for breeding if they are unable to care for them and/or make them good citizens and positive and active members of Society.
If the idea of withdrawing child benefits is too much for some, then we should be looking at replacing the pecuniary/money element of child benefits and replacing part or all of it with "social vouchers".
Hiram.K.Hackenbacker
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3:24pm Mon 13 Feb 12
ROBFM_is_my_father
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3:34pm Mon 13 Feb 12
A.Baron-Cohen
says...
3:39pm Mon 13 Feb 12
Hiram.K.Hackenbacker wrote:Incredible that even a 20 years+ education worker vindicates such a discredited idea like Eugenics.
One of the biggest 'problems' is that too many parent(s) of these nuisance pupils aren't capable/responsible enough of looking after themselves - let alone bringing up a child to respect others in authority and fellow peers!! Having just fought my way through a Town Centre full of young 'girls' pushing buggies around looking for 'respect' from others on Half Term. How about 'Primark' sponsoring a campaign for rewarding good behaviour in schools, as most of them seem to be loitering around in there from what I've just witnessed!!!
Hmmmf
says...
4:30pm Mon 13 Feb 12
A.B-C wrote:
If the kids are being a non-sense in Schools maybe we should be looking at withdrawing some the child benefits paid to the parents of badly behaved children.
And where exactly in the article did you read that all the malefactors' parents were in receipt of child benefits? Or have you now switched from your Daily Mail "wall of shame" lunatic idea to a rabid Daily Mail "All parents of naughty children must be Benefits-bludgers" prejudice?
Just another number
says...
5:23pm Mon 13 Feb 12
Once that determination is made that a child has behaviour problems or issues with basic hygiene or social skills then the parent or parents should be required to attend parenting classes to show them how to discipline their children appropriately, encourage suitable behaviour, and to teach manners and respect.
That needs to happen long before those children become teenagers who behave in a dangerous, destructive, and threatening manner toward their teachers and peers.
westswin
says...
5:47pm Mon 13 Feb 12
Highworth Lad wrote:I totaly agree but i supose it will be against their Human Rights and one of the little darlings will take the school to court.
Bring back the cane and dap for the young ones, never did me any harm and was a good way of making you think twice before misbehaving.... agree with you Hiram
Knobfm
says...
7:00pm Mon 13 Feb 12
I'm a brilliant pairunt, but then I'm rather great at most things.
What I don't know could be written on the back of a roll of wallpaper
Trend
says...
8:01pm Mon 13 Feb 12
Madness!
Robfm
says...
7:46am Tue 14 Feb 12
They claim it's because of cultural differences within their intake.
TinkeyWinkey
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8:16am Tue 14 Feb 12
A smack on the backside or back of the hand never did my kids any harm years ago and I didn't have problems with my kids growing up and they have since grown into great adults.
Of course you're no longer allowed to smack your kids and the cane is long gone in schools.
How can you revive discipline when you can't punish kids?? Exculusion is just days off for those that don't give two hoots for others.
Smokin Joe
says...
11:24am Tue 14 Feb 12
Robfm wrote:That's because it IS due to cultural differences within their intake. Lots of Asian students (I went to Swansea Uni). If you've ever been anywhere in Asia you'll know that in certain countries their toilet habits are completely different to ours - squat bogs, no paper, etc. Students from overseas, maybe first time away from home, a bit naive to the ways of the world may find this initially confusing. I don't see it as such a big deal to put up posters explaining things (as indeed there are in Asia for Western tourists). To imply that this somehow means that the youth of today can't even go to toilet properly is ridiculous Robfm.
It seems that it is not only children that aren't properly toilet trained. Swansea University has put up signs instructing how to use the toilets correctly.
They claim it's because of cultural differences within their intake.
house on the hill
says...
2:01pm Tue 14 Feb 12
4:30pm Mon 13 Feb 12
A.B-C wrote:
If the kids are being a non-sense in Schools maybe we should be looking at withdrawing some the child benefits paid to the parents of badly behaved children.
And where exactly in the article did you read that all the malefactors' parents were in receipt of child benefits? Or have you now switched from your Daily Mail "wall of shame" lunatic idea to a rabid Daily Mail "All parents of naughty children must be Benefits-bludgers" prejudice?""
hmmmf, I think you will find every parent gets child benefit, even millionaires, so not sure your rebuke is relevant.
This is probably due to a variety of factors, some parents, some schools, some both, some peer pressure, trying to find one reason would be wrong. But I do agree with others, giving them time away from school hardly seems like a punishment.
Is it really any different to how it was in the past? Kids always play up and always will, parents do need to take more responsibility, teachers cant dicipline so that has to start at home, but very rarely does.
Robfm
says...
5:24pm Tue 14 Feb 12
If there is one earner on 44k a year they don't get the benefit, if there are 2 on slightly less each that 44k they do get it.
Needless to say this is being challenged.
Skint
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1:24pm Wed 15 Feb 12
cherryblossom
says...
1:40pm Wed 15 Feb 12
Skint wrote:Redhouse Secondary School....Say no more!
Where the heck is Isambard School? Is that what they call Headlands these days?
Moth
says...
9:04pm Thu 16 Feb 12
Hiram.K.Hackenbacker wrote:When I was at school, we stepped out of line we got belted with a belt called a Tawse (Scotland).
So be a naughty boy/girl & get days off of school?? NOT a good incentive! How about punishing them by making them have to attend EXTRA days at school, at weekends. With twenty plus years in the education sector, I know that this deterrant would get kids thinking twice!! Too many laugh in the face of authority when 'rewarded' with days off school. Try asking other pupils what punishments should be dished out, I'm pretty sure most would agree with my 'positive' suggestion!!!
Went home and got another walloping for getting the belt at school in the first place.
Our parents exercised discipline then. We grew up knowing right from wrong and respecting other people and their property.
Many kids nowadays get no discipline or guidance from their parents whatsoever. As my late mother would have said, they're left to drag themselves up.
Bad behaviour at school or anywhere else comes right back to inefficient parents, many of whom prefer to sit infront of a TV, get drunk, drugged up or all three instead of guiding their kids onto the right path.
Until old-fashioned discipline is brought back both at home and in schools, the problem of unruly, violent pupils will continue.
So many of these kids will go onto a life of crime. They have no chance.
rgm123
says...
6:58pm Wed 22 Feb 12
Robfm says...
9:04am Mon 13 Feb 12