25 February 2024 , 23:29
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Disruption and violence in our schools is a danger to teachers as well as pupils.
Our chilling special report today reveals soaring suspensions and frightening behaviour in classrooms. Primary children as young as seven are throwing furniture, ripping posters from walls and storming out. The majority of schools are well-run but threatening behaviour is intolerable wherever it is found. Troubled kids using teachers as punchbags is completely unacceptable.
When successive Tory education ministers have talked grandly of improving standards and instilling discipline, they are clearly failing their own tests. If they have not solved basic problems after 14 years, they never will.
The sooner the general election is held the better – Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson will give hope where none exists. Britain deserves a fresh start and that includes our schools. The Tories running England’s education system are not up to the job.
Sunak's Shame
Grimly clinging to office and terrified of Tory MPs scheming against him, Rishi Sunak’s inability or refusal to tackle odious Islamophobia in his party is the disgraceful sign of a weak Prime Minister. Civil war is erupting yet again in the Conservative Party and Sunak has the appearance of a bystander when a decent PM would seize control and vow to root out racism.
Nursery apologises after child with Down's syndrome ‘treated less favourably’
The contrast could not be greater with Keir Starmer’s principled, decisive confrontation of antisemitism in the Labour Party.
Lee Anderson is a symptom of a deeper disease corroding the Conservatives. He is not the only MP with inflammatory, warped views which – even when proven to be untrue within moments – can inflict lasting damage. Sunak should find a moral compass and take a stand.
On the slide
Torvill and Dean skating off the box leaves the ITV show Dancing on Thin Ice. If the skids really are under the annual contest, diehard fans will be all slushy.