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'Do nothing' accusation in exclusions row
 Theresa May applauds the work of the Zacchaeus Centre |
Targets for reducing the number of pupils excluded from school should be abolished, says the Conservative education spokeswoman, Theresa May.
But a senior government source has accused the Conservatives of proposing a "do-nothing" policy - and says the government is about to announce its own plans to increase referral units for misbehaving youngsters in inner-city schools.
The argument comes as the shadow education secretary prepares to unveil her party's education policy on Tuesday, in which Ms May is set to call for an end to the government's "artificial" targets for exclusions.
The pressure to cut exclusions by a third means disruptive pupils are kept in schools, even though it is harmful to themselves and their classmates, says Ms May.
 Schools should set their own discipline codes, says Theresa May |
Without such initiatives, the government says that exclusions will increase, which in turn will lead to more young people on the streets at risk of being drawn into petty crime.
But the Conservative party is set to question the whole culture of target-setting - which at present measures progress in literacy, numeracy and cutting class sizes and exclusions.
Literacy targets
Ms May says that the setting of targets can mean more attention is paid to improving statistics than raising the actual standard of education.
Targets for literacy can also see too much attention being paid to those borderline pupils whose success or failure will determine whether targets are met - at the expense of the class as a whole, says Ms May.
The 'Common Sense Revolution in Education' will also include a call for a shake-up of the curriculum for 14 to 16-year-olds, with proposals for pupils to be allowed to take up vocational training rather than academic lessons.
 The Zacchaeus Centre takes pupils out of school and helps them with "anger management" |
There will also be radical proposals to allow all schools to set their own admissions policies - allowing each school to become entirely or partially selective.
Such a system of 'free schools' would require the "strategic overview" of local education authorities, says Ms May, which would continue to have a role in the Conservatives' blueprint for education.
"Politicians have to get away from trying to develop a school system in their own likeness - and allow schools to develop in a way that meets their own needs and which is appropriate to their own communities."
This could also mean the creation of schools funded by the state but run by groups of parents or by voluntary groups such as churches. These would receive funding from the government and would remain outside the control of local education authorities.
Theresa May will also re-iterate the policy of the "parents' guarantee", in which parents will be able to call for an emergency Ofsted inspection if they have fears about standards.
Self-esteem
Speaking at the Zacchaeus Centre in Birmingham, which provides out-of-school support for children at risk of expulsion, Ms May called for a system in which disruptive pupils could be helped in support units away from school.
 Schools should determine their own selection policy, says the Conservatives' education policy |
"It's not about boot-camps or punishment, but finding ways of helping young people achieve greater self-esteem."
Although saying that corporal punishment was not going to return as an option, Ms May says that schools should be allowed to set their own parameters for discipline and behaviour policy.
The Zacchaeus Centre, praised by Ms May for its efforts to prevent permanent exclusions, teaches pupils "anger management" techniques.
This includes such activities with a psychotherapist as punching pillows to release tensions and for children to express their aggression in an "angry book" which they then tear up.
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See also: | |
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 | 28 Sep 99 | Education |
| School assaults blamed on cut in exclusions |
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| 20 Sep 99 | Education |
| Safety fears over school exclusion targets |
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| 04 Mar 99 | Education |
| School that stopped exclusions |
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| 05 Oct 99 | Education |
| Schools at heart of Tory blueprint |
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| 03 Jun 99 | Education |
| Charities demand action on black expulsions |
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| 31 Aug 99 | Education |
| Churches urged to help expelled pupils |
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| 12 Oct 99 | Education |
| Excluded pupils 'lost' in the system |
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