School violence group a 'talking-shop'

Government plans for an advisory committee of teachers on how to tackle classroom violence were today dismissed as a "talking-shop".

Ministers said the Leadership Group on Behaviour and Discipline will show the way to restoring a "culture of respect" in the classroom.

But shadow education secretary David Cameron said behaviour would not improve unless heads had the power to expel pupils without fear of their being reinstated on appeal. He accused Education Secretary Ruth Kelly of " running scared" after the Tories made school discipline the key education issue during the election campaign.

Government targets to reduce expulsions were scrapped some time ago. But the Tories have vowed to go further and abolish appeal panels to which parents can go if they want an expulsion overturned.