Tough new measures ready to help prevent school violence

The WA Education Minister has labelled any violence in schools ‘shocking and appalling’ ahead of a mayor crackdown on bad behaviour, after several incidents were caught on camera.

There has been a number of violent videos that have come out of WA schools.

The changes to policies could be the shakeup needed with a suggestion to automatically suspend children who instigate violence or start a fight.

There will also be consequences for children who film fights.

A review was launched by the education department after a Busselton Senior High School student was filmed punching and kicking on the head of another student in March.

WA Education Minister Sue Ellery says the changes should make a difference in schools but change also needs to happen before and after school.

"Violence doesn’t begin and end in schools – if we are going to see violence in our community, we are probably going to see that reflected in our schools,” she said.

“Schools can do better but as a whole community we need to take stronger steps to stop violence.”

There will be a trial next year and it will be fully rolled out across all state schools by 2020.