The Crisis in Primary Education: Gangs, Violence, and the Struggles of Teachers
How primary schools became warzones: Gangs, teachers put in hospital and heads too terrified to act. FRANCIS FOSTER reveals what's really going on, 'inclusion' policies to blame and parenting failure making things worse

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Francis Foster, a former teacher, reveals the alarming rise in violence in primary schools in Croydon, London, highlighting the challenges faced by educators. With a record number of expulsions for violence and the impact of 'inclusion' policies, he argues for stricter discipline and the need for alternative educational paths for troubled students.
- 01Permanent exclusions for physical assault in schools reached a record 3,320 last spring, marking a 21% increase since before the pandemic.
- 02More primary school pupils were expelled for violence against teachers (281) than secondary school pupils (245).
- 03Foster blames the policy of inclusion for worsening classroom behavior, arguing that it fails to address the needs of both disruptive and high-achieving students.
- 04He advocates for the empowerment of head teachers to expel violent students to alternative education settings, such as Pupil Referral Units (PRUs).
- 05The rise in gang influence among students is linked to absentee fathers and a lack of positive male role models.
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Francis Foster, a former supply teacher in Croydon, London, shares his harrowing experiences in a primary school plagued by violence and disruptive behavior. He recounts incidents involving a particularly aggressive student, Jamie, whose actions culminated in a serious assault on a teacher. Foster's observations are supported by alarming statistics from the Centre for Social Justice, indicating a record number of expulsions for physical assaults in schools, particularly among younger pupils. He attributes the escalating violence to ineffective 'inclusion' policies that integrate students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) into mainstream classrooms without adequate support. Foster argues that such policies compromise the learning environment for all students. He also highlights the influence of gangs on vulnerable children, particularly those lacking positive male role models at home. Foster calls for a reevaluation of disciplinary measures in schools, advocating for the authority of head teachers to expel violent students to alternative educational settings. His experiences and insights culminate in his book, (Un)Educated: My Life as a Teacher, and Why You Should Never Become One, which critiques the current education system and its failures.
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The rising violence in schools affects the safety and learning environment for students and teachers, leading to a need for urgent reforms in educational policies.
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