A TEACHERS’ union has slammed recommendations to penalise schools if pupils leave with poor literacy skills.

The National Union of Teachers, NUT, has said that the government should be ensuring there is ‘sufficient’ support available to youngsters.

It comes after an independent report into last summers riots put forward a number of proposals which included a suggestion that schools in England should be fined if pupils leave school with poor literacy skills.

The Riots, Communities and Victims Panel report also said that schools were a fundamental part in preventing future riots.

Blackburn with Darwen branch secretary and national executive member Simon Jones, said: “The Government needs to do far more to reduce child poverty and youth unemployment, including restoring the Education Maintenance Allowance to its former levels and getting rid of tuition fees.

“They also need to stop cutting school and local authority budgets to ensure there is sufficient professional support available for those pupils who need it.

“Failure to do any of these things will mean that many young people and adults will remain disillusioned with what life has to offer them and never achieve their full potential.”

The riots were triggered in Tottenham after police shot Mark Duggan on August 4.

They travelled from the south of the country to the north in a matter of days.

A number of people were arrested and charged during the disturbance.