Saint Christina’s School
Policy Document
on
Use of Force to Control
&
Restrain Pupils
Person/s Responsible:
Miss N. Clyne-Wilson
Updated:
April 2010
Date of next review:
April 2013
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SAINT CHRISTINA’S SCHOOL
MISSION STATEMENT
Ad finem fidelis*
We share and care and forgive
For that is how Christ teaches us to live
At Saint Christina’s we’re a part of God’s family,
Where we live and learn and play in harmony.
Everybody here strives to follow Christ’s way,
In all that they think and do and say.
At Saint Christina’s we’re a part of God’s family,
We respect diversity and individuality.
We seek to excel in all that we do,
Grow in God’s love and embrace Christ’s teaching, too!
At Saint Christina’s we pray and grow together,
Treating everybody like a sister or a brother.
We learn tolerance and co-operation,
Embracing people from every nation.
Faithful to the end
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RATIONALE
At Saint Christina’s School we are a Catholic community, committed to
endeavouring to uphold our Mission Statement which places Christ at the centre
of our School Community. It follows that our community must be one of love,
whose members honour the Christ they find in one another. Each person in
the School, no matter his or her worldly status, deserves to be treated
with the respect and, indeed, reverence due to one created in the image of
God and redeemed by the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ. This belief is at
the heart of the School’s policy on the use of force to control and restrain
pupils.
CONTEXT
Section 550A of the Education Act 1997 allows teachers and other persons
authorised by the Headteacher who have control or charge of pupils to use such
force as might be reasonable in the circumstances outlined below. This provision
applies when a teacher or other authorised person is on the school premises and
when he or she has lawful control or charge of pupils on school visits or other
authorised school activities. The Act allows all teachers at a school to use
reasonable force to control or restrain pupils. It also allows other people to do
so in the same way as teachers, provided they have been authorised by the
Headteacher to have control or charge of pupils.
DEFINITION OF REASONABLE FORCE
There is no legal definition of reasonable force. Three criteria, established for
guidance, should be borne in mind:
The circumstances of the particular incident must warrant it;
The degree of force must be in proportion to the circumstances;
The age, understanding and sex of the pupil.
Minimum force should only be used and never as a punishment. Teachers should
always consider carefully whether, and if so when, physical intervention is right;
they should therefore always try to deal with a situation through other
strategies before using force. The following are examples of what might be
considered reasonable force:
Physically interposing oneself between pupils;
Blocking a pupil’s path;
Holding, pushing or pulling;
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Leading or shepherding a pupil away from an incident by the hand or arm
or by gentle pressure on the centre of the back;
(in extreme circumstances) using more restrictive holds.
CIRCUMSTANCES
MIGHT BE USED
IN
WHICH
REASONABLE
FORCE
Both the Law and Circular 10/98 identify the following circumstances in which
reasonable force might be used:
Where a criminal offence is being committed;
Where pupils injure themselves or others;
Where there is a risk of significant and imminent damage to property;
Where the behaviour is prejudicial to maintaining good order and
discipline at the school or among the pupils;
Where the action occurs on the school premises or during an authorised
activity off the premises;
In self-defence, where risk of injury is imminent.
RECORDING INCIDENTS
FORCE OR RESTRAINT
INVOLVING
THE
USE
OF
The Headteacher or any other member of the Senior Management Team should
be informed after any incident involving force. A written report should be made
as soon as possible after the event. This should include:
The name(s) of the pupil(s) involved and where the incident took place;
The names of any staff or pupils who witnessed the event;
The reason that force was necessary (e.g. to prevent injury to the pupil,
to another pupil or to a member of staff);
How the incident began and progressed, including details of the pupil’s
behaviour, what was said by each of the parties, the steps taken to
defuse or calm the situation, the degree of force used, how it was applied
and for how long;
The pupil’s response and the outcome of the incident;
Details of an injury suffered by any party and any damage to any
property.
This policy applies to pupils in EYFS, KS1 and KS2.
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