School tough on verbal abuse (From This Is Local London)

School tough on verbal abuse

4:38pm Thursday 17th March 2005 in

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Pupils at Fortismere High School risk exclusion if they swear at or are verbally abusive to staff and fellow students, under a hard-line stance taken by headteacher Andrew Nixon.

Two children have been excluded from the school in Creighton Avenue, Muswell Hill, over the past week, after Mr Nixon sent out a reminder to parents and students that verbal abuse and using bad language were completely unacceptable.

"Now and again one or two children get it into their head that they can be disrespectful. There is a serious consequence and I've told them that if they do that, then I will send them home," he said.

Mr Nixon said he has the wholehearted support of parents and the community for his stance and last week's reminder was met with a positive response.

"It is the job of the school to train children the proper way to behave. It also fits in with Government policy to do with behaviour. It is a stern reminder that we have high expectations here."

Despite wanting children to stay in class, he said the exclusions are a means to bring home the message', and have always been part of the school's policy.

Fortismere's stance echoes the Labour Government's zero tolerance' approach to school discipline, and Mr Nixon said it has been highly successful.

In February this year Education Secretary Ruth Kelly promised extra help for schools to deal with a disruptive minority of pupils who prevented other children from learning, and supported taking them out of the classroom.

Mr Nixon, who has been with the school for about 22 years, is standing down from his post in August.

The Fortismere school board is holding its second round of interviews to fill his position, after the initial six candidates interviewed were unsuccessful.

John Abraham, chairman of the board of governors, said they are re-advertising the position in this week's Times Education Supplement and, fingers crossed', they will find soon find a replacement.

Mr Abraham said Mr Nixon is a hard act to follow as the school has become very successful under his leadership, and it is important to find another headteacher of the same calibre.