Gove promises new rules for teachers on classroom discipline

London: The so-called "no touch" rules that discourage teachers from restraining or comforting schoolchildren are to be abolished as part of a "new deal" for teachers, the Education Secretary, Michael Gove, said on Friday.

Gove also disclosed that he will give teachers a right to anonymity when faced by allegations from pupils.

Gove, one of David Cameron's closest cabinet allies, promised to change the rules on discipline. He argued: "At the moment, if you want to keep order in class, you have to read the equivalent of War and Peace. There are about 500 pages of guidance on discipline and another 500 pages on bullying. We will clarify and shrink that.

"Teachers worry that if they assert a degree of discipline, one determined maverick pupil will say ‘I know my rights' and so teachers become reticent about asserting themselves. There are a number of schools that have ‘no touch' policies and we are going to make clear this rule does not apply.

"I don't believe you should be able to hit children, but I do believe that teachers need to know they can physically restrain children, they can interpose themselves between two children that may be causing trouble," Gove said.