Ministers urged to ‘lift pressure’ on head teachers with new guidance

Ministers are being urged to issue new national guidance for schools which “lifts the pressure” on head teachers not to use “serious sanctions” against pupils when needed.

The Commission on School Reform made the plea amid growing concerns over disruption and violence in Scotland’s schools.

It raised the issue of both suspensions – where pupils are removed from school for a short period of time – and exclusions, which can see youngsters permanently barred from a school.

And the report was clear that “schools should not be made to feel that the use of exclusion is contrary to national policy and likely to incur official disapproval”.

It called on the government to issue guidance which “recognises the need for sanctions in maintaining a good learning environment in schools” and which als