Teachers don't know their own powers

Most teachers are in the dark about their right to search pupils for offensive weapons Eight out of 10 teachers are unaware of their legal powers to search pupils for weapons, a survey has found.

The revelation comes after last week’s call from government behaviour tsar Sir Alan Steer to broaden teachers’ powers to search pupils for items such as drugs and alcohol.

The Teacher Support Network (TSN) questionnaire found nearly half of teachers believe the proposals will not stop children bringing dangerous items into school. But a significant minority of the 300 participants (38 per cent) said they thought giving staff extended powers could be effective.

Under the 2006 Violent Crime and Reduction Act, heads have the power to authorise a member of staff to search a pupil if they have a reasonable suspicion that they are carrying a knife or offensive weapon. Teachers are also protected by the Education and Inspections Act 2006, which protects any person in a school who seizes pupils’ possessions and retains them.

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