Smacking children could lead to lower GCSE grades, study suggests
Key takeaways
- Researchers from the University College London (UCL) studied the impact physical punishment had on 19,000 children born in the UK between 2000 and 2002 at the ages of three, five and seven.
- They observed that smacking "does no good whatsoever" and have called for England and Northern Ireland to outlaw it, in line with Scotland and Wales.
- The Department for Education in England said the government had no plans to change the law on smacking, but that the safety and wellbeing of children was a government priority.
Why this matters: a developing story that could shape the day's news cycle.
Beth Rose,Disability affairs reporter and Vanessa Clarke,Senior education reporter PA Media Campaigners have called for England and Northern Ireland to make smacking children illegal, in-line with Scotland and Wales Smacking children as a form of punishment could result in lower school grades or lead to riskier teenage behaviour, a study has found.
Researchers from the University College London (UCL) studied the impact physical punishment had on 19,000 children born in the UK between 2000 and 2002 at the ages of three, five and seven.
They observed that smacking "does no good whatsoever" and have called for England and Northern Ireland to outlaw it, in line with Scotland and Wales.