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Teachers urged to 'get tough' on bad behaviour Teachers urged to 'get tough' on bad behaviour
(about 4 hours later)
Teachers can dispense "tough but proportionate" punishments to tackle bad behaviour in schools, Education Secretary Michael Gove has said.Teachers can dispense "tough but proportionate" punishments to tackle bad behaviour in schools, Education Secretary Michael Gove has said.
Possible sanctions include weeding school grounds, tidying classrooms, writing lines and reporting to the school gates early in the morning. Possible sanctions include weeding school grounds and tidying classrooms.
The government said there had been "significant progress" in improving behaviour in schools since 2010. There had been "significant progress" on indiscipline since 2010, but "there is much still to do", Mr Gove said.
But Mr Gove said there was "much more still to do". Unions said teachers did not need "one-size-fits-all advice". Labour's Tristram Hunt said allowing unqualified teachers was "damaging standards".
Updated guidelines on dealing with bad behaviour will be sent to all schools in England next week, the Department for Education (DfE) said.Updated guidelines on dealing with bad behaviour will be sent to all schools in England next week, the Department for Education (DfE) said.
In March last year, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers said the number of pupils in the UK with behavioural and mental health problems was on the rise. It said persistent absence and exclusions for abuse and assault were down significantly since 2010, but that 700,000 pupils remained in schools where behaviour was "not good enough".
The union said disruptive classroom behaviour was worsening, with 53% of 844 members surveyed reporting a deterioration over the past five years.
The government said persistent absence and exclusions for abuse and assault were down significantly since 2010.
But 700,000 pupils remain in schools where behaviour is "not good enough", the spokesman added.
'Orderly environment'
BBC education correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti said the education secretary's announcement did not involve new powers for teachers.BBC education correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti said the education secretary's announcement did not involve new powers for teachers.
Mr Gove was urging the use of existing sanctions available to schools, and there would be no need for new legislation, she said.Mr Gove was urging the use of existing sanctions available to schools, and there would be no need for new legislation, she said.
The guidance had drawn a "bit of a lukewarm response" from Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, our correspondent said. The guidance had drawn a "bit of a lukewarm response" from the National Association of Head Teachers general secretary Russell Hobby, our correspondent said, adding he felt it was "a bit of a PR exercise".
She reported him saying that, while the union always welcomed the backing of government, "with no new powers, this feels like a bit of a PR exercise". 'Orderly environment'
A DfE spokesman said the updated guidelines would make it clear that punishments were "as crucial to an effective education as praising and rewarding good behaviour".A DfE spokesman said the updated guidelines would make it clear that punishments were "as crucial to an effective education as praising and rewarding good behaviour".
He said the current guidelines stopped short of outlining potential sanctions, leaving many school heads and teachers unclear on what action to take, and also with health and safety fears or concerns about litigation.He said the current guidelines stopped short of outlining potential sanctions, leaving many school heads and teachers unclear on what action to take, and also with health and safety fears or concerns about litigation.
Mr Gove said: "Our message to teachers is clear - don't be afraid to get tough on bad behaviour and use these punishments.Mr Gove said: "Our message to teachers is clear - don't be afraid to get tough on bad behaviour and use these punishments.
"The best schools already ask pupils who are behaving poorly to make it up to their teachers and fellow pupils through community service."The best schools already ask pupils who are behaving poorly to make it up to their teachers and fellow pupils through community service.
"I want more schools to follow their example by making badly behaved pupils pick up litter or help clear up the dining hall after meal times.""I want more schools to follow their example by making badly behaved pupils pick up litter or help clear up the dining hall after meal times."
He said standards of behaviour were improving in schools, but there was "much more still to do".He said standards of behaviour were improving in schools, but there was "much more still to do".
"These new guidelines will give teachers the confidence to be tougher on bad behaviour and ensure every child has the chance to learn in a controlled, orderly environment.""These new guidelines will give teachers the confidence to be tougher on bad behaviour and ensure every child has the chance to learn in a controlled, orderly environment."
Support 'undermined'
The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) said Mr Gove's "behaviour is becoming increasingly bizarre".
"While he says he wants to give school leaders and teachers the power to make the right decisions for their schools, he takes every opportunity to tell them what to do," general secretary Mary Bousted said.
"Behaviour is good or better in over 90% of schools, according to Ofsted. Teachers feel empowered to discipline pupils when they are working in schools which have effective behaviour policies which are consistently applied."
She added: "They do not need one-size-fits-all advice from this government about pupil behaviour."
And National Union of Teachers deputy general secretary Kevin Courtney said: "It has to be remembered that the majority of our schools have good levels of behaviour and many of the deterrents mentioned, such as litter detention, will already be used in many schools."
He said "sufficient training at teacher training level and access to ongoing support and training throughout their careers" was needed to give teachers the confidence to deal with such issues.
"Michael Gove's policy of abandoning QTS [Qualified Teacher Status] and running down local authority support services undermines both of these," he said.
In 2012 rules were relaxed for academy schools in England meaning they are now allowed to employ teachers who have not qualified, bringing the semi-independent state schools in line with free schools and private schools.
Labour's shadow education secretary, Mr Hunt, said: "This is damaging standards in our schools. They should end this practice and commit to Labour's pledge to ensure all teachers are qualified and have the training they need to control behaviour in the classroom."