GEORGE Osborne said he would explore giving schools tougher powers to prevent a repeat of the stabbing of a Bradford teacher.

Standing in at prime minister’s questions, the Chancellor said “hearts go out” to pupils and staff at Dixons Kings Academy, in Lidget Green, where Vincent Uzomah was attacked last week.

Mr Osborne praised the governors and teachers at the school, telling MPs they had handled the difficult situation “incredibly well”.

And, asked what the Government was doing to tackle knife crime, he replied: “What we have done is given teachers powers to search the bags and the like.

“But if there are more things that we can do, as we learn the lessons of this incident, then of course we will.”

MORE EDUCATION HEADLINES

Mr Osborne spoke in reply to a question asked by Judith Cummins, the Bradford South MP, who told fellow MPs of the “appalling incident” last Thursday.

The Labour MP told the House that a boy is accused of stabbing a teacher.

She said: “I’m sure the whole House will wish to join me in expressing its shock at this horrifying incident and to wish Mr Uzomah a swift and full recovery.

“What steps is he taking to tackle knife crime in our schools?”

However, the exchange came as it was revealed that the Government has failed to enact a new law on knife crime backed by MPs exactly one year ago.

MPs voted in favour of the “two strikes” crackdown on June 17, 2014 and the measure was given Royal Assent in February - but has still not been enacted.

Under it, adults face a mandatory six-month sentence for being caught twice with a blade, with 16 and 17-year-olds facing four months.

Some Tory MPs fear the Ministry of Justice is delaying the new law because of the £40m annual cost of dealing with the 2,000 extra offenders it would catch.

Police have said that Mr Uzomah, 50, is “improving” in hospital, after receiving a single stab wound to the stomach while working as a supply teacher in the school.

A 14-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in Bradford and Keighley Youth Court on Saturday charged with his attempted murder.

He is denying the charge and the case is set to progress to trial.

Mrs Cummins visited Dixons Kings Academy on Friday where she offered her full support to the Principal, and to ensuring that Mr Uzomah, students and staff get all possible assistance to help them recover from this traumatic incident.

“To their credit, the school continues to operate as normal. The atmosphere on Friday was calm, students were in classes, and focussed on their studies,” she added.