THE mum of murdered Calne schoolgirl Ellie Gould is to continue to push for self-defence to become a compulsory part of the national curriculum despite an education minister ruling out.

North Wiltshire MP James Gray hosted a Westminster Hall debate on Thursday into a number of issues surrounding the death of Hardenhuish schoolgirl Ellie.

Her killer fellow sixth former Thomas Griffiths was given a life sentence but could be released after just 12 years.

Mr Gray said: “I have been doing a good bit of work with her parents, Matt and Carole, over the far too lenient sentence on her murderer.

“Ellie’s three school friends, Ellie Welling, Harriet Adams and Tilda Offen are campaigning for better relationships training and they have now come up with the very sound notion of basic self-defence training for all in schools up and down the county.

“The Minister’s response by letter was cautiously encouraging but made the point that schools must decide their own curriculum.

“So I thought I would call a debate in Parliament ion the subject, at least in part to secure some wider publicity for this thoroughly good idea.”

Junior education minister Vicky Ford backed away from making self defence compulsory but did agree to issue guidance and ask all heads to consider if it was the right thing for their schools to teach.

During the debate Mr Gray said “We want young people to be leaving school with some kind of understanding how they can conduct themselves in the dangerous world which they will find when they leave school.”

He said Ellie’s friends believed self-defence was as important as swimming and road safety lessons.

He said: “We want young people to be leaving school with some kind of understanding how they can conduct themselves in the dangerous world which they will find when they leave school.”

Ms Ford said road safety and swimming were compulsory because the balance of risk was different.

She said schools needed to consider pupils’ age and maturity, so they understood it could only be used in an emergency.

She said: “We will work with the Association for PE, Sport England, and the sector to make sure that new, clear guidance is available to schools on how to make safe and effective provision where a school is considering to add this to their teaching.

“We will look to develop this guidance this year to sit alongside other work we’re doing on supporting schools to offer a wider range of development activities to all their pupils.”

Devizes MP Danny Kruger took part in the debate. He said: “I am in regular contact with Patricia Gould, a resident of Great Cheverell near Devizes, the grandmother of Ellie Gould

“Self-defence training in schools is an important issue and I fully support the proposal for schools to equip young people against attacks.”

Carole Gould said: “I am pleased that this put self defence for schools in the spotlight but we will continue to campaign for it to be a compulsory part of the curriculum.

“We hope to get as many Wiltshire schools as possible involved to start it off.”