Advice on using reasonable force in schools

Released 09/02/2012

New guidelines on how to use reasonable force in schools have been released by the Government

The report states that any member of staff at the school has the right to use reasonable force

The document intends to provide clarification on the use of force within school, in order to help school staff feel more confident about using it when necessary. It also aims to “make clear the responsibilities of school leaders and governing bodies in respect of this power.”

The guidelines are aimed at governing bodies, headteachers and school staff in all schools. The key points outlined by the report are:

- School staff have a legal power to use force, and clarifying what “lawful use of the power” is will provide a defence to any related criminal prosecution or other legal action.

- Suspending a staff member should not be an automatic response when they have been accused of using excessive force.

- Senior school leaders should support their staff when they are required to use reasonable force.

The report states that any member of staff at the school has the right to use reasonable force and this can also apply to people who have been temporarily put in charge of pupils such as unpaid volunteers or parents accompanying students on a school organised visit. The “when can reasonable force be used” section highlights the main situations where reasonable force is tolerated, for example: to prevent pupils from hurting themselves or others, from damaging property, or from causing disorder.

Click here to view the document in full.

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