Link between exclusions and knife-crime?
Recent press coverage of an increase in knife attacks has raised concerns over what can be done to tackle what is fast becoming a national crisis.
Recent press coverage of an increase in knife attacks has raised concerns over what can be done to tackle what is fast becoming a national crisis. One area of focus is the role of schools, given the apparent link between pupil exclusions and violence.
Bringing a knife into school is a serious breach of a school’s behaviour policy. Allowing that pupil to remain at the school is likely to seriously harm the welfare of others at the school as it not only puts that pupil and others at risk of harm, but can also lead to an inference that carrying a knife is not overly serious. This is why schools often impose the last-resort sanction of permanent exclusion in order to convey to all pupils the seriousness of carrying knives and to deter others from doing the same.
Exclusions appeals/reviews following knife incidents should review what schools do to prevent knife-crime in the first place. Regularly communicating and enforcing clear behaviour policies, tackling gang culture and bullying through active policies, workshops, PHSE lessons and getting various agencies such as the police and charities to hold talks about knife-crime are all steps that schools can take to help combat this complex issue.
Contact
Hayley O'Sullivan
Senior Associate
hayley.o'sullivan@brownejacobson.com
+44 (0)121 237 3994
You may be interested in...
Online Event
School complaints: handling problem parent behaviour
In Person Event
National Governance Conference for schools and trusts
Legal Update
ICO consultation on accessing care records: A legal perspective
Legal Update
Not quite a blanket ban on mobile phones in schools: DfE guidance insights
Opinion
Regulator warning on future dangers of asbestos
In Person Event
Child protection in Education – London
In Person Event
Leading Safeguarding 2024 - London
Legal Update
What does the new gender questioning guidance mean for schools?
Legal Update
HXA and YXA : Guidance from the Supreme Court on negligence in failure to remove cases
Legal Update - RAAC
RAAC: the tip of the iceberg for school building safety
Legal Update
School exclusions guidance: Managed moves between schools
Legal Update - RAAC
Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete ('RAAC') implications for schools
Legal Update
Safeguarding judgements and school intervention
Legal Update
100+ schools told to close immediately due to threat of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete
Legal Update
Work experience placements – commendable: have them, and be alive to the risk
On-Demand
Working to the updated school exclusions guidance – practical steps to take
Legal Update
School building safety is ‘a critical risk’
On-Demand
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023 – implementing the key changes
Legal Update
Public Consultation on a Mandatory Reporting Regime for Child Sexual Abuse
Legal Update
Changes to Exclusions Guidance for September 2023
Legal Update
Detailing safeguarding information in references- the outcome of Smith v Surridge and others
Legal Update
DfE statistics on suspensions and exclusions published
Legal Update
The Online Safety Bill – what does it mean for schools?
Legal Update
New support launched to manage school complaints
Legal Update
Safeguarding at scale report published
Guide
FAQs - converting to academy status
Legal Update
Protecting children and their data in the online environment
Legal Update
Top three training topics 2022-23
As well as providing day-to-day support to help you focus on managing your settings, we also provide training and professional development on a range of topics to keep you and your staff up-to-date.
Legal Update
Hair discrimination – stop pupils being unfairly singled-out for their appearance
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHCR) recently issued new, non-statutory guidance regarding the wearing of natural or protective hairstyles, specifically in reference to their representation in uniform, behaviour or standalone appearance policies.
Guide
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse - A guide for schools and trusts
Press Release
Law firm picks up record breaking sixth Education Investor Award
Browne Jacobson’s education team has been named as winner of the ‘Legal Advisors to Education Institutions’ category at the Education Investor Awards 2022 for a record sixth time.
Press Release
Thousands take part in virtual careers event to help increase diversity in the legal profession
Over 3000 young people from across the UK and Ireland took part in a virtual legal careers insight event, aimed at making the legal profession more diverse.
Opinion
Directors fined for unsafe removal of asbestos
Two directors of a construction company were fined after failing to ensure the safe removal of asbestos from a plot of land. On 14 and 15 November 2021, Directors Anthony Sumner and Neil Brown, of Waterbarn Limited were involved in the uncontrolled removal of asbestos material from a plot of land in Grasscroft, Oldham.
Opinion
Don't look down
An engineering company in Tyne and Wear was fined £20,000 after a worker fractured his pelvis and suffered internal injuries after falling through a petrol station forecourt canopy, whilst he was replacing the guttering.
Guide
Assaults on school staff - how can schools mitigate the risk
In this article we set out the most common issues we encounter, along with guidance on assessing and mitigating the risk from assaults.
Opinion
Insights from the DfE on pandemic recovery and major policies
On 21 September 2022, we had the pleasure of hosting a Whitehall & Industry Group (WIG) lunchtime briefing, delivered by the Director General for the DfE’s Strategy Group, Julia Kinniburgh.
Opinion
HSE inspection of asbestos in schools
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have announced they will be carrying out a programme of inspections to primary and secondary school establishments from September 2022. The inspections will assess how schools are managing the risks from asbestos and meeting the Duty to Manage requirements, set out in Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
Legal Update
Browne Jacobson’s market leading Education expertise recognised again in latest Legal 500 rankings
The new set of Legal 500 directory rankings have been published and we are proud to once again be recognised as one of the country’s leading firms advising the Education sector.