Bad behaviour in schools to be tackled in new scheme

Behaviour expert and former teacher Tom Bennett will lead a programme to tackle bad behviour, which will see a network of expert schools help teachers and school leaders in need of support.

The scheme is backed by £10 million from the DfE and will see five hundred schools taking part.

Over a third of schools are not currently judged as having good enough behaviour by Ofsted. What's more, dealing with poor behaviour cited as a key reason for teachers leaving the profession, the Government is determined to take action.

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.
These 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.

Tom Bennett, the Department’s Lead Behaviour Adviser, said: "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."

A team of advisers will shortly be appointed to work alongside Bennett to help develop and deliver the programme of support. The advisers will be education professionals with a track-record and understanding of improving behaviour in schools and will play a crucial role in helping select the lead behaviour schools which will deliver additional support to others.

The programme will work with supported schools to develop an understanding of the causes of the behaviour issues and how these could be addressed; and developing comprehensive, bespoke action plans for the supported schools.

By the end of the programme, teachers in schools are expected to report fewer incidents of disruptive behaviour and pupils should report they feel safer at school, while able to learn more effectively.

The programme will launch in September 2020 and the programme will run for an initial period of 3 years, improving the culture in schools and sharing good practice, producing disciplined environments where pupils feel safe and able to learn.