In a concerning incident in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, a 14-year-old girl was convicted of the attempted murder of three individuals during a school stabbing. This alarming event has sparked an ongoing debate about why children bring knives into schools and how best to address this issue. Owen Evans, the chief inspector of Welsh education inspectorate Estyn, emphasized that a one-size-fits-all policy would not suffice in dealing with such complex matters. He advocated for understanding the underlying reasons behind this behavior rather than implementing a blanket exclusion policy.
Owen Evans pointed out the growing behavioral issues in schools, suggesting that the "easy answer" of banning or excluding students might not be effective. He insisted that while knife attacks in Welsh schools are rare, it is crucial to learn from these incidents. Evans stated, "You may have a child that has every potential for redemption but they have fallen into bad practice and we cannot exclude those people from society." He argued that many children who bring knives to school do so because they feel threatened themselves or believe others are bringing knives.
"A lot of children who bring knives to school feel threatened themselves or they feel that other people are bringing knives to school." – Owen Evans
Evans highlighted the importance of addressing the root causes of these behaviors, noting, "We need to tackle the root issues that sit behind that decision." Despite his stance, Neil Butler, the NASUWT union's national officer for Wales, criticized Evans' suggestions as "most unhelpful." Butler argued that immediate exclusions should be prioritized to ensure the safety of all students and educators. He dismissed Evans' comments about exclusion shutting out pupils from society as "nonsense," emphasizing the necessity of exclusion to maintain safety.
"We need to tackle the root issues that sit behind that decision." – Owen Evans
In response to these incidents, Bridgend council announced plans to establish a group dedicated to investigating the presence of knives in schools. This decision follows an incident at Bryntirion Comprehensive where a knife was discovered in a student's bag. Meanwhile, Wales' Education Secretary Lynne Neagle revealed plans for a behavioral summit next year aimed at addressing the complex challenges facing schools.
"You may have a child that has every potential for redemption but they have fallen into bad practice and we cannot exclude those people from society." – Owen Evans
Estyn is also preparing to release its annual report on the state of education and training across Wales, which may shed further light on these issues. The report is expected to provide insights into current trends and challenges within Welsh schools.
