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ecEd
The ONLY weekly voice for secondary education Issue 243 • March 18 2010 Price £1.00
www.sec-ed.com
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Schools urged to fight
knife crime and gangs
In challenging
by Chris Parr
circumstances
Schools in areas affected by gang
Working in schools in
culture and knife crime are being
told to help tackle these harrowing
challenging circumstances can
issues in the classroom.
be incredibly rewarding. On the
In two separate campaigns, min-
eve of a major seminar into this isters have called on schools to
area, we hear from the chief
engage with pupils about the dan-
of the TDA about its work to
gers of violent and criminal activ-
encourage teachers to consider
ity, in a bid to stop them becoming
involved.
working in these schools
On Monday (March 15), prime
Page 15
minister Gordon Brown launched
Count Me In: Together We Can
Voting systems
Stop Knife Crime week, which is
aiming to get thousands of young
best practice people to join an online campaign
to end knife crime.
Our ICT page focuses on voting
It is being run in partnership
systems this week, and asks with the charity Families Utd,
whether we’re using them
which represents the families of
effectively
knife crime victims.
Page 10
Mr Brown said: “I believe
young people want to see an end to
Pastoral matters
knife crime, just as we all do, and
I believe the power to make that astating impact on the families and The launch took place at Lilian so they can prevent young people rivalries that might exist between
happen is as much in their hands as communities affected. The victims’ Baylis Technology School in falling into the downward spiral young people based on such factors
We hear from one school that
it is ours.” families have to live with the tragic Lambeth. Gary Philips, headteach- of violence, substance misuse and as postcodes, ethnic or religious
has completely revolutionised
Young people are being direct- consequences of knife crime for the er, said it was essential that his anti-social behaviour. identities, and to work with other
its pastoral systems ed to the campaign website, where rest of their lives – this is deeply pupils had the chance to learn about “The new guidance shows teach- local agencies to monitor and tackle
Page 12
they can sign up to give their saddening.” knife crime. He added: “It is about ers and youth workers what signs to these problems.
support. Barry Mizen, whose son Jimmy supporting our students to make look out for among children and “The job of tackling gang cul-
SecEd digital
The website contains advice, was killed the day after his 16th smart choices and recognising when young people most at risk of gang tures and youth violence cannot
routes to further support, and testi- birthday following an argument with they do.” involvement.” be left to schools alone. The whole
monies from the families and com- another youth at a south London The campaign comes just days Patrick Roach, assistant general community needs to face up to the
and Twitter
munities affected by knife crime. bakery in 2008, urged young people after ministers launched guidance to secretary of the NASUWT union, realities of gangs and youth vio-
There is also a resource pack to get behind the campaign. help teachers to spot signs that their said the guidance was “important, lence and work together to address
Thousands of teachers are
for teachers, which contains knife He said: “It is all too easy pupils may be involved with gangs. and welcome”. the impact of these behaviours on
reading SecEddigital, a virtual
crime statistics, lesson ideas, assem- nowadays to brand young people The guidance calls on teachers He continued: “It is important the lives of young people.”
bly themes, and a links to other as aggressive and confrontational, to be on the look out for signs such that schools feel properly supported To access the guidance, search
edition of SecEd, which is
materials such as online games and when in fact that is far from the as drug and alcohol misuse, an and equipped to deal with these for “gang guidance” at http://pub
emailed out every week.
videos. truth and most want to show they inability to control emotions, physi- problems when they arise and in lications.everychildmatters.gov.uk
You can sign up for free by It offers guidance on helping have much to offer and can be part cal violence and aggression, and building the resilience of pupils to The Count Me In: Together We
emailing editor@sec-ed.co.uk.
youngsters to discuss the issues sur- of the solution. persistent offending. challenge and to say ‘no’ to gangs, Can Stop Knife Crime week cam-
SecEd news and features are
rounding knife crime, and real-life “We should support and encourage Mr Coaker said he wanted the violence and crime.” paign websites can be accessed at
now also available on Twitter.
case studies to help them under- them as they rally around families early identification of these signs “to Chris Keates, general secretary www.familiesutd.co.uk/countmein
stand the potential consequences of who have lost loved ones to violent become common-place in schools”. of the union, added: “The reality is and www.facebook.com/countmein
You can follow us at www.
carrying a weapon. crime and are seeking to work for He added: “We are determined that gang cultures have their roots To access the teaching resourc-
twitter.com/SecEd_Education
Vernon Coaker, the schools min- changes to the attitudes and actions to give professionals the support outside the school gates, and it is es, visit www.teachernet.gov.uk/
ister, said: “Knife crime has a dev- that blight our communities.” and advice they need to act earlier, important that schools are alive to countmein
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