Teachers to have extra powers to search pupils

Teachers could soon be allowed to search pupils for drugs, alcohol and stolen goods under news plans being considered by the government.

Currently staff can only carry out weapons searches on students and must call in police to check for other illicit items. But schools secretary Ed Balls said it may now be necessary to widen teachers' powers so they can perform such checks themselves.

"I'm not saying that teachers need to use these powers, should be using these powers, but I think the right thing for me is to make sure schools and heads and governing bodies have all the powers they need," he remarked.

Mr Balls has asked the government's school discipline advisor Sir Alan Steer to examine the proposals to make sure they would be workable.

The Association of School and College Leaders has welcomed the additional powers. Its general secretary John Dunford said they would help to reassure parents that their children are safe at school.

A recent study by Warwick University has revealed that a quarter of teachers have reported weapons in schools in the last 12 months.