Michael Gove has accused Labour of undermining teachers after new figures revealed that just 80 children were expelled for bullying last year, despite almost half of all children saying they had been bullied.
Since 1997, Government rules have deliberately made it more difficult for schools to expel children permanently, undermining the authority of headteachers and meaning bullies end up back at the same school as their victims.
Michael, the Shadow Schools Secretary, said it was “unbelievable” that only a handful of children had been expelled.
He attacked Labour for making it harder for schools to permanently exclude pupils, and promised a Conservative Government would scrap the independent appeals panels that overrule headteachers’ decisions, and give teachers more powers to ensure a safe and secure environment.
“Our reforms would give schools the power to take a ‘zero tolerance’ approach towards serious offences such as bullying and give teachers the tools they need to maintain discipline in the classroom before it spirals out of control.”