Teacher Assaults And Abuse Rise In Schools

By Afua Hirsch, Social Affairs and Education Editor

The tragic killing of teacher Ann Maguire, stabbed to death in front of her class, has reignited the debate about security in schools.

It is the first time a teacher has been killed in school since the murder of headteacher Phillip Lawrence at the hands of a teenage gang member in North London in 1995.

In the two decades since, the issue of violence in schools has never been far from the headlines.

Now Sky News has obtained a picture of the extent of violent behaviour targeted at teachers and other staff in schools.

Figures from the Department for Education show there has been a steady increase in incidences of assault and abuse against adults in schools.

Teacher Ann Maguire was killed at her school

In 2009/10, 16,950 pupils were excluded or suspended for attacks against teachers.

In 2010/11, the figure was 17,360, while in 2011/12, it rose again to 17,520.

The figure does not include an even greater number of pupils excluded for attacks against other children.

Although the killing of a teacher in school is extremely rare, teachers say they are worried about violence in schools.

Sky News conducted an investigation into the number of pupils found by police to be carrying weapons in schools which shows there is cause for concern.

Corpus Christi headteacher Steve Moat and students lay flowers in church

Since 2011, 981 pupils were caught by police with weapons in schools, including guns, knives and a meat cleaver.

The figure includes at least 80 primary school children, the youngest of whom was an eight-year-old found to be carrying a knife to school in Scotland.

Some 329 of those found with weapons - including those caught with a stun gun, an axe and a cut-throat razor - were charged with a criminal offence.

Campaigners warned the true figure is certain to be much higher as 21 police forces did not supply the information.

The research also discounts figures from West Midlands police, which alone recovered weapons from 538 people during the same period, because its figures also account for colleges and universities.

Nearly 1,000 weapons have been found in schools since 2011

The figures, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, show that on average across the country, almost two pupils are caught with weapons every school day.

Recent events lead to further questions about whether schools and policy makers have failed to tackle the problem.

Although the Government announced in 2009 changes that could have seen knife arches and metal detectors used in schools up and down the country, that never happened.

Some schools use wands and airport-style metal detectors but companies which supply the equipment claim many have stopped using them in recent years.

That has prompted some to call for a reassessment of the measures necessary to keep teachers and pupils safe in schools.

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'Male Members' Get Sign After Ladies Mix-Up

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

Parliament is edging its way into the 21st century. Step one - equal rights.

A door-sign in the House of Commons that has irked female MPs because it labels a room "members" despite being only for men has finally been changed.

The sign that appears to be for all MPs actually leads into a room where male members can get dressed. The equivalent room for women is signed "lady members".

Lisa Nandy said the labels baffled her when she arrived in Westminster as the new Labour MP for Wigan.

"When I was first elected I found a door with a sign that said 'members room'. Thinking it was for members I walked in and there was a male MP getting changed. And he said 'why are you in here?'"

Ms Nandy was a little put-out, asking why it was assumed that "members" meant men-only.

Lisa Nandy threatened to make her own sign changes

A few years later, she had the chance to push for a change when a member of the House Authorities came to interview her about "equality and diversity" in Parliament.

"I told him I'd been trying to get the sign changed for two years and if they didn't change it I was tempted to do it myself," she joked.

The officer decided to avoid Ms Nandy's do-it-yourself handy-work.

Instead, he took it into his own hands. To acknowledge the arrival of women in Westminster, the door has finally been changed - for "gentleman members" only.

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Army Dog Sasha's Posthumous Bravery Medal

A British military dog killed in a grenade attack in Afghanistan will be posthumously awarded the PDSA's Dickin Medal for bravery.

Four-year-old Labrador Sasha served with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, attached to the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment.

She was credited with saving scores of lives by sniffing out mortars, hidden weaponry and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

Sasha was killed in Afghanistan alongside her handler, Lance Corporal Kenneth Rowe, in July 2008.

Lance Corporal Kenneth Rowe died alongside Sasha in July 2008 (Pic: MoD)

Lance Corporal Rowe, 24, and Sasha died when their routine patrol was ambushed and struck by a rocket-propelled grenade attack.

An inquest later heard that Lance Corporal Rowe, from West Moor near Newcastle, died the day after he was due to return home.

He chose to stay on to complete a planned operation because he was concerned about a lack of cover for his comrades.

The PDSA says Sasha is the 65th animal to receive the Dickin Medal since the award began in 1943.

The honour is the highest that an animal can receive while serving in a military conflict.

PDSA Director General Jan McLoughlin said: "We are extremely proud to be awarding a posthumous PDSA Dickin Medal to Military Working Dog Sasha.

"The award is even more poignant as we approach the centenary of World War One and are reminded of the huge debt we owe the animals who serve in times of conflict.

"Sasha's exceptional devotion to duty in Afghanistan saved many lives, both soldiers and civilians.

"This medal, recognised worldwide as the animals' Victoria Cross, honours both Sasha's unwavering service and her ultimate sacrifice."

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UK Economy Grows 0.8% In First Quarter

The UK's economic recovery continued in the first quarter of 2014, with the first estimate of GDP growth coming in at 0.8%.

The figure, while weaker than the 0.9% most economists had expected, meant that output was 3.1% higher than on the same period the previous year, marking the fastest annual growth since the last quarter of 2007.

However, the economy remains 0.6% smaller than at its peak in the first quarter of 2008, after the recession wiped 7.2% off total output.

News of the economy's latest performance, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), showed growth across each major sector of the economy, though construction output was damaged by the impact of the winter storms.

The ONS said while widespread flooding appeared to have no overall effect on output it said bad weather in January and February did hit efforts to meet demand for new homes, with construction recording just 0.3% growth.

Mr Osborne says the figures show Britain is "coming back"

Output in the service sector - which makes up more than three quarters of UK GDP - rose by 0.9% and continued to be driven by consumer spending.

Manufacturing grew by 1.3%, its strongest quarter for nearly four years, bolstering hopes for a rebalancing in the recovery away from its reliance on consumers.

Industrial production rose 0.8% though mining and quarrying, electricity and gas production and agriculture shrank over the quarter.

The GDP figures were seized upon by the union organisation the TUC as evidence the recovery was not gaining enough momentum to sustain a raise in interest rates, which is widely expected next year.

The figures were released at the same time as statistics showing a 2.5% rise in the number of people being declared insolvent in England and Wales over the same period.

There were 24,931 individual insolvencies recorded during the three months - a period when wage increases finally caught up with inflation for the first time since the recession.

Chancellor George Osborne said: "Today's figures show that Britain is coming back - but we can't take that for granted. We have to carry on working through our long-term economic plan.

"For the first time in a decade all three main sectors of the economy - manufacturing, services and construction - have grown by at least 3% over the last year.

"The impact of the great recession is still being felt, but the foundations for a broad-based recovery are now in place.

"The biggest risk to economic security would be abandoning the plan that is laying those foundations".

Shadow chancellor Ed Balls said: "Now that growth has finally returned, the question is whether ordinary working people will properly feel the benefit and we have a balanced recovery that's built to last."

He told Sky News: "Most people are experiencing a cost of living crisis, which David Cameron and George Osborne try to deny. Its a reality for most people in our country".

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PM Accused Of Dragging Feet On TV Debates

Ed Miliband has accused David Cameron of "dragging his feet" over televised leadership debates ahead of the General Election.

The Labour leader and his Liberal Democrat counterpart, Nick Clegg, have already "signed on the dotted line" to participate in the showdowns.

However, according to Mr Miliband, the Prime Minister has become the "biggest single obstacle" to them going ahead, suggesting political manoeuvring by the Conservative Party.

In an interview with the Radio Times, Mr Miliband said: "It is a pity that the Conservatives will not even sit down to begin negotiations until later this year - when it will be harder to secure an agreement - and have stalled at every opportunity they have been given to do so.

"I can only assume that Mr Cameron wants his party's deep pockets to be used for maximum advantage and that perceived political self-interest lies behind his party's reluctance to get these debates on."

He said it should not be that the outcome of the election should be skewed by the number of "mailshots and billboard posters" a party could afford and that the television debates helped level the playing field.

Mr Miliband said he wanted the debates to be less formal and for people to be able to ask more questions.

Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage took part in public debates on Europe recently

Britain first televised leadership debates ahead of the 2010 election with Mr Cameron, Mr Clegg and Gordon Brown going head to head in three separate duels on Sky News, the BBC and ITV.

Mr Cameron has already said publicly he wants them to be repeated ahead of the vote in 2015 but has complained that the 2010 debates "took all the life out" of the campaign.

His spokesman said on Tuesday there would be no discussions between the parties about the TV debates until after autumn's party conferences.

He said:  "His view is that the debates are a good thing and his view hasn't changed from the fact, as he has already expressed, that he thinks they should be held over a longer period of time, particularly now we are in a fixed-term parliament."

There have been some questions over who should be allowed to participate in the debates with a suggestions that UKIP leader Nigel Farage should be invited to join in.

However, Mr Cameron has ruled this out, saying the showdowns should only be for those with a reasonable prospect of becoming prime minister.

There have also been suggestions Mr Cameron may attempt to leave Mr Clegg out and instead just go toe to toe with the Labour leader.

Mr Clegg told the Financial Times he would "struggle to think of even half a respectable excuse the Conservatives could come up with to deny the British people the right to see the party leaders measuring up against each other in a leaders' debate".

Shadow cabinet minister Michael Dugher - who is on the party's negotiating team - said the Prime Minister was scared of entering the fray.

He told Radio 4's Today programme: "I can see why Cameron doesn't fancy it; he is like a fighter with a glass jaw with his record of failure, broken promises, standing up for the wrong people. But that's not good enough." 

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Tube Strike Leads To Long Queues Across London

Commuters have faced long delays after a Tube strike over ticket office closures took effect in London.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union mounted picket lines outside stations after walking out at 9pm on Monday.

The action is planned to last for 48 hours and will be followed by a three-day stoppage next week.

Large queues built up as early rush-hour passengers waited until 7am for the first Tube trains to run.

Passengers outside Stratford Underground, DLR and Overground station

London Underground (LU) said it was running services on nine lines despite the "pointless" strike, although there were no trains on the Waterloo and City or Circle lines.

There were almost 8,000 buses on the roads - the most ever operated in London - after an extra 266 were put into service.

LU managing director Mike Brown said: "Thousands of staff and volunteers are working hard this morning to keep London working and our customers informed in the face of this pointless strike.

"More London Underground staff have come to work this morning than during the strike back in February and a record number of London buses are operating."

At Euston station in north London, customers crowded around the entrance to the Underground, waiting for the clock to tick round to 7am.

On the busy Victoria line, where trains normally run approximately every two minutes, there was just one service every 10 minutes.

At Victoria station in central London, passengers pouring off mainline trains were confronted with a wall of people waiting for Tube services.

There were large crowds at Clapham Junction in the southwest of the capital, with many passengers choosing to take Overground services and some platforms restricted.

Commuters wait to board a busy Underground train on the Northern Line

Heathrow Express trains between Paddington and Heathrow were running as scheduled due to staff reserves.

The RMT union is embroiled in a fresh row over the ticket office closure plans, which officials warn threaten safety as well as almost 1,000 jobs.

LU denied there would be any impact on safety and said ticket office staff would provide a better service if they were moved to other parts of stations.

The RMT said its members were solidly supporting the industrial action, as the union again attacked the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, over the future of ticket offices.

Bus and train services were also much busier than normal

Mick Cash, the union's acting general secretary, said: "London Underground have dug themselves into an entrenched position and have refused to move one inch from their stance of closing every ticket office.

"It is scandalous that Transport for London are blowing what we estimate to be hundreds of thousands of pounds on politically-motivated adverts and propaganda designed to deflect attention from Mr Johnson's broken promises."

However, Mr Brown said: "The RMT leadership appears to remain implacably opposed to the modernisation of the Tube that will radically improve customer service and help us keep fares down."

Business groups warned the strikes will cost the capital's economy millions of pounds.

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Children Murders: Mum Sent To Secure Hospital

A woman accused of murdering three of her children has been released from prison and sent to a secure hospital for immediate treatment.

Tania Clarence, 42, sobbed quietly as she appeared via video-link at the Old Bailey, accused of killing three-year-olds Ben and Max, and four-year-old daughter Olivia, at their home in the southwest London suburb of New Malden.

In an unusual move, Recorder of London Judge Brian Barker ruled Clarence could be released from prison and put into a secure hospital under the Mental Health Act.

"It seems to me, having heard submissions on both sides and having discussed the matter with medical experts, there is an overriding need for immediate treatment in a secure setting," he told the court.

"There is a combination of circumstances here that makes this an exceptional case and allows this court to take an exceptional course.

Gary Clarence, centre, at court last week

"It isn't bail, but what we are doing is ordering for her to be subject to a Section 35 order under the Mental Health Act, so she can then be remanded effectively for review of her condition."

The judge said the order should be processed by the end of the day and the case would be reviewed again in 28 days' time.

Looking pale and emotional, Clarence spoke in a strong South African accent as she confirmed her name and watched the proceedings from HMP Bronzefield in Surrey.

Her husband, Gary Clarence, sat in the public gallery during the bail hearing.

He was away with the couple's eldest daughter, Taya, at the time of the deaths.

His wife is accused of three counts of murdering a child aged over one year old between April 20 and April 23 this year.

All three young children suffered from type 2 spinal muscular atrophy - a genetic condition also known as floppy baby syndrome.

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School Stabbing Prompts Teacher Tribute Tweets

The fatal stabbing of Ann Maguire at a school in Leeds has led to a public outpouring of tributes among social media users remembering their teachers past and present.

As staff and students at Corpus Christi Catholic College struggled to come to terms with the death of the 61-year-old, the hashtag #thankyouteacher set up by the @PeopleofLeeds Twitter account prompted a flood of posts.

Many were motivated to tweet their support and respect for the teaching profession in the wake of the tragedy.

Chloe Potter posted: "Such a moving, important and positive hashtag to come out of yesterday's tragedy. #thankyouteacher."

In another tweet, Emma Langley wrote: "So saddened by Mrs Maguire stabbing. Not inevitable I'd end up spending so much time in books, let alone as a career, so #thankyouteacher."

Another user tweeted: "To all my teachers, I wouldn't be here without you all. Inspired me to become one. #thankyouteacher."

The hashtag #thankyouteacher has attracted a flood of posts

Labour MP Diane Abbott also tweeted her respect for teachers, describing them as "pillars of communities across the UK".

Another user wrote: "Teachers everywhere, what you do is plant a seed that blossoms when we are adults. We thank you."

As the school in Leeds opened on Tuesday, children began arriving early to add tributes to the 200-plus bouquets of flowers covering the railings outside the gates.

Many of the students described Mrs Maguire, who had taught at the school for more than 40 years, as an inspirational teacher who went out of her way to help pupils.

One of the notes left with the flowers at the school in Leeds read: "You inspired countless generations.

"You taught four generations of our family and you were simply a totally fantastic teacher, always caring and always there to make us smile (even if you were speaking Spanish)."

Tributes have been left at the school gates as well as on social media

Former pupil Kerrianne Ayward, 17, said: "She was just lovely. She was helpful and caring and you could have a laugh with her.

"She was always there for you, even if she didn't know you very well. No one had a bad word for her - I mean no one."

Pupil Georgina Kilroy, 16, said: "I don't know anyone who didn't like her. She was spot on. You couldn't ask for a better teacher."

As she was laying flowers, former pupil Aine Arnold added: "It's more like losing a family member than losing a teacher. She was just lovely. She was wonderful. I am devastated."

Peter Masefield, 18, described Mrs Maguire as the "school's figurehead", while Georgina Kilroy, 16, added: "I don't know anyone who didn't like her. She was spot on. You couldn't ask for a better teacher."

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Woman Trapped After 30ft Fall At Cathedral

A woman became wedged between two turrets after falling up to 30ft during a tour of Wells Cathedral.

The 68-year-old was inside the tower when she fell and became trapped in a void between two walls 150ft up inside the bell tower, according to the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue service.

She suffered suspected broken wrists, a broken pelvis and abdominal injuries.

The woman suffered the fall during a tour at Wells Cathedral

A rescue operation to free the woman was launched by firefighters. Paramedics, a doctor and an RAF helicopter also joined the effort.

The victim was given pain relief and then winched up to a stable platform at the cathedral in Somerset.

From there she was lifted to a safe area within the tower and then winched on board an RAF Sea King helicopter which took her to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol.

Dr Paul Richards, from Wells Cathedral, told Sky News: "It occurred in one of our regular, what we call 'high part' tours, where a group of no more than a dozen go and see some of the more hidden places of the cathedral.

"You go up inside the cathedral, we would go up through a number of spiral staircases, and reach some of the roof spaces.

"I think there was an unfortunate point, I don't know exactly how it happened, but she slipped through some gaps that meant she fell down to a floor level slightly below."

The 160ft cathedral is in Somerset

All tours at the cathedral have been cancelled.

A police statement said: "The woman was wedged between two turrets and suffered arm and pelvic injuries. An RAF helicopter assisted in the operation."

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue said appliances from Wells, Shepton Mallet, Bridgwater and Street attended the incident.

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Leeds Teacher Died From Multiple Stab Wounds

A post-mortem examination has found a much-loved teacher killed at a Leeds school died from multiple stab wounds.

Ann Maguire, 61, who taught at Corpus Christi Catholic College for more than 40 years, had been due to retire in September.

Headteacher Steve Mort and pupils lay flowers in honour of Ms Maguire

Police say they will be interviewing the 15-year-old held in connection with her death at some point during the day.

Due to his age, officers said this would have to be handled sensitively.

The students who witnessed the incident are being interviewed by specialist officers.

Pupils have been leaving tributes and photographs outside the school

The authorities have also stressed the fatal stabbing is an isolated incident.

Detective Superintendent Simon Buldon said: "This is clearly an unprecedented and tragic incident that's left the school and wider community in a state of shock."

The school's chair of governors Martin Dowling said: "This has been a shocking but isolated incident.

The school community has been stunned by the murder of the popular teacher

"Ann was a wonderful, dedicated teacher and will be remembered fondly by all of us."

School head Steve Mort said: "Ann Maguire was a wonderful, caring individual. She was an outstanding teacher and an outstanding leader.

"She'd been a cornerstone of the school community for 40 years, she'd touched the hearts of three generations of pupils."

Monsignor Paul Fisher conducted a mass at Corpus Christ Catholic Church

Mr Mort also did not think detectors were necessary, adding that the school was a "safe environment".

He added: "And I think ultimately Ann Maguire herself, if she was asked that question, would strongly oppose any suggestion that we should have metal detectors in this school."

The school opened as normal on Tuesday to allow staff and students to remember Mrs Maguire, and support each other.

Head teacher Steve Moat and students lay flowers in church

Children began arriving early to add tributes to the more than 200 bouquets of flowers that cover the railings outside the gates.

Mrs Maguire was also remembered at a service in the neighbouring Corpus Christi Church.

Monsignor Paul Fisher said: "Today we pray for the light of hope: hope for ourselves that eventually we will come to terms with what has happened.

Some 30 pupils are understood to have witnessed the killing

"We offer prayer too for the family of the man who unfortunately did what he did."

Officers were called to the school just before noon on Monday after a report a member of staff had been stabbed. A knife was recovered from the scene.

Around 30 pupils witnessed Mrs Maguire, who is believed have two grown-up daughters, being stabbed repeatedly in class.

Some reported hearing screams as other members of staff rushed to her classroom and restrained her attacker.

Pupils arrive at Corpus Christi College which opened as normal this morning

Her death is the first time a teacher has been stabbed to death in a British classroom.

Head teacher Philip Lawrence was murdered outside a school in Maida Vale, London, in 1995 when he went to help a pupil who was being attacked.

A recent Sky News investigation revealed almost 1,000 pupils were caught with weapons including guns, axes and a meat cleaver in schools in the last three years.

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