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Teachers across England now have the power to search pupils for knives and other offensive weapons without consent as part of the Government’s drive to ensure schools continue to be safe and secure places to learn.

The new power comes alongside the ability for schools to screen pupils for violent weapons using devices such as arches and ‘wand’ metal detectors.

Guidance for schools on how best to use these new measures, also published today, makes it clear that screening and searching can be carried out by professional trained security staff, as well as teachers, but where there is felt to be any risk to safety, the police should be called.

Secure, Safe Environment

The Education and Skills Secretary, Alan Johnson said: “Every child has the right to learn in a secure and safe environment. Fortunately knife incidents in schools are extremely rare and the majority of schools will not need to use these measures.

“The main way to keep knives out of our schools is to continue educating young people about the dangers associated with illegally carrying a knife. But one violent crime caused by a weapon is one too many.

“This new power was called for by teachers, but our guidance makes clear that a search should never take place where there is any risk to staff or pupils. In those circumstances the police should be called.

“Schools can also use metal detector arches and wands to screen pupils for knives where the head feels this is helpful and would work as a deterrent. I think parents will welcome the clear message that bringing a weapon into school is a criminal offence and will not be tolerated.

“Screening, alongside today’s new power for searches, means that schools now have the law behind them so they can take the necessary action to prevent weapons from coming through the front gate.”

The Guidance advises heads how to screen pupils and suggests that randomly selected group of pupils, such as a class, could be screened in order to send a strong deterrent message. The guidance also makes clear that a pupil can be refused entry to the school or a visit if they refuse to be screened.

Meanwhile, reaction from teachers’ groups has been mixed. The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) – which, with a membership of over 28,000 is the largest organisation of its kind in Europe has this comment to make on it’s website: “NAHT appreciates that the Government is wishing to underline the fact that weapons are not tolerated under any circumstances in schools but have concerns about the proposals in the consultation. As yet, we are still awaiting the guidelines from the Government, but we understand that it will empower Heads to search individuals without their consent.”

It continues: “We believe strongly that it is the job of the police to search individuals for weapons. They are trained and have the appropriate body armour. Our advice to our members will be to call for police assistance should they suspect that a weapon is being carried. As for metal detectors and other screening devices, heads will use their judgement. However, given the size of most secondary schools and the number of entrances and exits they are likely to be somewhat impractical.

Weapon-Carrying Culture

Meanwhile the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT), the largest union representing both teachers and head teachers across the UK, has welcomed the provision to schools of the power to search for offensive weapons, but maintains that the power to search is 'a job for trained site security staff'.

The NASUWT has long campaigned for a range of measures to improve school security. Recently, the Union’s suggestion that schools should be able to commission random airport-style security checks to detect and deter offensive weapon carrying was adopted by the Government.

Chris Keates, the General Secretary of NASUWT, said: “The introduction today of the power for head teachers to authorise searching of individual or groups of pupils suspected of carrying offensive weapons is a welcome development.

“This provision, together with random airport-style checks and the new provisions on pupil behaviour will provide schools with a menu of strategies from which they can choose to assist them in maintaining high standards of safety, good order and discipline.

“Despite the growing weapon-carrying culture on the streets, incidents involving weapons in schools are still extremely rare. These measures will assist schools in ensuring it remains that way.

“I welcome the fact that the Government took seriously our representations and removed any expectation that teachers and head teachers would carry out searches themselves. Such an expectation would have been counterproductive and would have had an adverse effect on the nature of a teacher’s relationship with pupils. Conducting searches is a job for appropriately trained staff who have site security as part of their role.

“It is likely that the majority of schools will never need to use these measures. However, all schools will still need to consider how they will be incorporated into their policies and procedures to ensure that they are prepared fully should the need arise.

“There is a clear role for local authorities and the local police in supporting and advising schools in this process.”

Authorised

The new Government guidance highlights the fact that no member of staff, unless authorised by the head teacher, can undertake a search.

It also makes clear that:

Two members of staff must always be present at a search, and recommends that both should have received appropriate training

The search must be undertaken by a staff member who is the same sex as the pupil

Where possible, it should take place out of public view

Home Office Minister Tony McNulty said: “These new measures in the Violent Crime Reduction Act send out a clear message that violence and weapons will not be tolerated in our schools.

“It is important that schools remain a safe haven where teachers and pupils are protected, even in challenging areas. We must stop problems in the wider community passing through the school gate.

“Young people are often the victims of crime and it is our duty to protect them. I'm sure that we have the full support of parents, teachers and the vast majority of well-behaved pupils in making schools safe 'no go areas' for weapons.”

The National President of the NAHT, David Tuck, also comments on the NAHT website that: “It needs to be remembered that most schools are safe and secure places where children are happy. The overwhelming majority of children go to school to learn, not to fight.”

For copies of the guidance – which only covers schools and further education establishments in England – visit: www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/healthandsafety/

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