Behaviour and Discipline in Schools

Memorandum submitted by Paul Bird

Thoughts and facts based on 40 years of teaching in an inner city school in a deprived urban area.
 
Behaviour in our schools must be underpinned by excellent teaching, delivering a quality curriculum in our state schools.
Initial Teacher training selection has to be more rigorous, universities have to select  future teachers not only on academic prowess but on positive and exciting characteristics,
early years teachers do not require the highest of academic qualifications but do need innate qualities to inspire young children. In general terms, possibly one third of our teaching force are outstanding in their chosen profession, one third are capable and prepared for the rigour of a teaching career, finally the last third are either not up for teaching or are not prepared to put in the required effort......this sharing into thirds goes across the board, including headteachers.
The strength of behaviour in our schools depends on the headteacher and how he/she supports, not only senior staff but the main scale teachers and support staff, all staff, teaching and non teaching, need to know that a consistent behaviour policy runs right the way through the school and everyone in the school has knowledge and ownership of the behaviour policy. Parents also need to be aware that a rigorous system is in place. I have put a responsibility on the head teachers in our schools but this is inevitable. Their presence in all classrooms on a daily basis is paramount to success. The selection of headteachers is paramount and must be evaluated in light of the needs of the today's difficult environment...positive headteacher appointments can develop good aspirational future leaders.
In the light of this, the last resort is to exclude the pupil from the school - if a child needs this sanction then it must only with the last resort with a pre-exclusion discussion with parents or guardians followed by a formal discussion with parents and guardians on their return. A good leader makes  pupils realise that whatever they do their behaviour has consequences........
lf we are to improve standards in education, we must make sure that we have good systems in place in order to appoint great or potential leaders and teachers. We also must have in place a system to move poor teachers out of  the profession immediately. 

September 2010