| StorageSite | UCL Institute of Education |
| Description | Comprises correspondence with unions, MPs, political parties, Lords, charities, special interest groups, businesses and other organisations.
Much of the series relates to STOPP's work in the early to mid 1980s in response to the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights in the Campbells and Cosans versus UK case, and the resultant Education (Corporal Punishment) Bill 1985 and Education Bill 1986. |
| AdminHistory | A ruling by the European Court of Human Rights forced the government to introduce the Education (Corporal Punishment) Bill 1985. Devised by Sir Keith Joseph (Secretary of State for Education), who opposed an outright ban, the Bill created two classes of pupil: those who could receive physical punishment and those who could not. As a result the Bill received a lot of criticism and was withdrawn by the government after it was opposed in the House of Lords. Within weeks a number of Local Education Authorities banned the use of corporal punishment in their schools.
When the Education Bill 1986 was returned to the Commons from the Lords an abolitionist clause had been attached. Popular pressure meant the government allowed MPs a free vote in the Commons. After a debate in the House of Commons that lasted 3 hours and 40 minutes MPs approved the Lords amendment by a single vote (231-230). The 1986 Education Act which abolished the use of corporal punishment in state schools became law on 7th November 1986. Corporal punishment itself was banned from 15th August 1987. |