Estelle Morris: jail parents who abuse school teachers

Disruptive and violent parents who abuse teachers in their children's schools should be jailed, the Secretary of State for Education says today.

As her department prepares to reap a spending boost of around £10bn from the Chancellor tomorrow, to be spent on crucial reforms to secondary education, Estelle Morris makes it clear that tackling discipline problems in schools is vital to the Government's mission.

In an interview on GMTV's Sunday Programme with Steve Richards, chief political commentator for the IoS, the minister says local authorities should use existing legal powers when teachers are abused by parents.

"I'm giving a clear message to local authorities and head teachers that if their staff are abused, either physically or verbally, take legal action and you will be applauded.

"Nobody will turn round and say 'it must have been the head teacher can't cope'."

Ms Morris was struck by the impact that the imprisonment of Patricia Amos, the mother of persistent truants, had on parents and believes jailing violent parents could have a similar effect.

Education is expected to be the big winner in Gordon Brown's three-year spending round. The environment will also benefit: £500m is being made available to implement the Curry Report on sustainable farming and new targets for recycling will be set.

Other beneficiaries are expected to be the departments for international development, defence, transport and housing and, after some wrangling, the Home Office.