Pioneering scheme to tackle bad behaviour in schools

A £10 million investment is set to help over 500 schools take part in a pioneering scheme to tackle bad behaviour.

Former teacher Tom Bennett, who led a national review to identify the best ways of dealing with disruptive behaviour in schools, will lead the programme, where a network of expert schools will be identified to help teachers and school leaders in need of support.

The network will be made up of schools that have exemplary behaviour management practices and effective whole-school cultures. They will work with other schools offering advice on ways to better manage behaviour using measures that have been proven to have an effect. This could include: intensive staff training on tackling classroom disruption; introducing centralised detention systems; new sanctions and rewards systems for pupils; and focusing on pupil attendance and punctuality.

Research suggests that more than 82 per cent of parents consider good discipline in the class a key factor when trying to find a school for their child. However, Ofsted reports that over a third of schools are not currently judged as having good enough behaviour.

School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said: “Calm and safe schools benefit all students, allowing them to concentrate fully on their studies. Just one instance of bad behaviour in a classroom can derail an entire lesson and hold back every other pupil in the room. We know these instances of classroom disruption damage teachers’ morale and increase workload and stress which is why we want schools to instil cultures of good behaviour at all times.

“As a government, continuing the improvement in pupil behaviour in schools is a key priority. With £10million of funding, the support provided to schools will allow teachers to get on with what they do best – teaching – and empower school leaders to implement their behaviour policies correctly and robustly.”

Bennett said: “Good behaviour is fundamental – not just to great learning, but countless other goals we value. However, too many students don’t enjoy classrooms where they can thrive and feel safe, and teachers need support and training to ensure this is the case.

“This scheme may very well be one of the most significant strategies for public good we have seen in decades and I’m thrilled to be leading this national programme that will help schools become safer and calmer, allowing more children and staff to flourish.