Ed Balls blasts parents who undermine school discipline

Children's Secretary Ed Balls is targeting parents who undermine school authority by challenging attempts to impose discipline.

He will warn in a keynote speech that head teachers are putting disruptive children in detention only for parents to march into class to demand their release.

Parents who refuse to accept teachers' rights to discipline are contributing to disruptive classroom behaviour, he will say.

A government-backed inquiry has been asked to draw up measures to help schools tackle parents who resist school authority, the minister will tell head teachers.

Schools will be expected to send parents regular email updates on their children's behaviour as part of wider moves to encourage greater interest in education.

Mr Balls will say that in order for schools to continue to improve results, parents need to help teachers with discipline.

'Some talk of giving detentions to pupils only for the parent to come in and demand their child is let off.

'So while the vast majority of parents work really well with schools, a small minority are not supporting heads.'

He will reveal he has asked the Government's behaviour adviser Sir Alan Steer to come up with ideas to help head teachers work with these parents.

Fears over poor discipline have emerged as one of parents' key reasons for choosing independent schooling.

Record numbers of teenagers are being expelled or suspended for violence, drugs and disruptive behaviour, according to official figures, while truancy is at an all-time high.

Other figures are expected to show that tens of thousands of school-leavers are dropping out and simply living on benefits.

Statistics released this time last year revealed that one in ten school-leavers is 'Neet' - 'not in education, employment or training'.