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| Teachers urged to 'get tough' on bad behaviour | Teachers urged to 'get tough' on bad behaviour |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Teachers in England can dispense "tough but proportionate" punishments to tackle bad behaviour in schools, Education Secretary Michael Gove says. | Teachers in England can dispense "tough but proportionate" punishments to tackle bad behaviour in schools, Education Secretary Michael Gove says. |
| Possible sanctions, included in updated guidelines, include weeding school grounds and tidying classrooms. | |
| There had been "significant progress" on indiscipline since 2010, but "there is much still to do", Mr Gove said. | There had been "significant progress" on indiscipline since 2010, but "there is much still to do", Mr Gove said. |
| Unions said many of the deterrents were already used and teachers did not need "one-size-fits-all advice". | |
| Labour's Tristram Hunt said allowing unqualified teachers was "damaging standards". | |
| The updated guidelines - which now specify suitable punishment for dealing with bad behaviour - will be sent to all schools in England next week, the Department for Education said. | |
| 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". | 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 education secretary's announcement does not involve new powers for teachers - Mr Gove is urging the use of existing sanctions available to schools, and there will be no need for new legislation. | The education secretary's announcement does not involve new powers for teachers - Mr Gove is urging the use of existing sanctions available to schools, and there will be no need for new legislation. |
| The guidance has been described as "a PR exercise" by the National Association of Head Teachers general secretary Russell Hobby. | |
| He said: "It's always been about finding a balance - the best schools know you need to reward as often as punish. | |
| "But this is nothing new, teachers have been balancing that for years." | |
| 'Orderly environment' | 'Orderly environment' |
| The Department of Education said the updated guidelines would make it clear that punishments were "as crucial to an effective education as praising and rewarding good behaviour". | The Department of Education said the updated guidelines would make it clear that punishments were "as crucial to an effective education as praising and rewarding good behaviour". |
| It said the current guidelines stopped short of outlining potential sanctions, which had left many school heads and teachers unclear on what action to take, and also with health and safety fears or concerns about litigation. | It said the current guidelines stopped short of outlining potential sanctions, which had left 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." |
| 'Ongoing support' | 'Ongoing support' |
| The Association of Teachers and Lecturers accused Mr Gove of "increasingly bizarre" behaviour and said that schools did not need "one-size-fits-all advice". | The Association of Teachers and Lecturers accused Mr Gove of "increasingly bizarre" behaviour and said that schools did not need "one-size-fits-all advice". |
| "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," said general secretary Mary Bousted. | "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," said general secretary Mary Bousted. |
| She said behaviour was good or better in over 90% of schools, according to Ofsted - and that what teachers needed was schools to have effective behaviour policies which were consistently applied, and support from parents. | She said behaviour was good or better in over 90% of schools, according to Ofsted - and that what teachers needed was schools to have effective behaviour policies which were consistently applied, and support from parents. |
| National Union of Teachers deputy general secretary Kevin Courtney also said most schools had good levels of behaviour and said that many of the deterrents mentioned, such as litter detention, were already used in many schools. | National Union of Teachers deputy general secretary Kevin Courtney also said most schools had good levels of behaviour and said that many of the deterrents mentioned, such as litter detention, were already used in many schools. |
| He said "sufficient training at teacher-training level and access to ongoing support and training" was needed to give teachers the confidence to deal with such issues. | He said "sufficient training at teacher-training level and access to ongoing support and training" was needed to give teachers the confidence to deal with such issues. |
| He said Mr Gove's policy of abandoning Qualified Teacher Status and "running down local authority support services" undermined both of those. | He said Mr Gove's policy of abandoning Qualified Teacher Status and "running down local authority support services" undermined both of those. |
| In 2012, rules were relaxed for academy schools in England - meaning they are now allowed to employ teachers who are not qualified, bringing the semi-independent state schools in line with free schools and private schools. | In 2012, rules were relaxed for academy schools in England - meaning they are now allowed to employ teachers who are not qualified, bringing the semi-independent state schools in line with free schools and private schools. |
| Mr Hunt, Labour's shadow education secretary, 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." | Mr Hunt, Labour's shadow education secretary, 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." |
| Katharine Birbalsingh, who is set to open a free school in London later this year and has previously spoken at the Conservative party conference, told BBC Breakfast she approved of the plans. | Katharine Birbalsingh, who is set to open a free school in London later this year and has previously spoken at the Conservative party conference, told BBC Breakfast she approved of the plans. |
| She said: "I think it's excellent that we're getting advice from the top and hopefully that we're going to hold heads to account for their schools." | She said: "I think it's excellent that we're getting advice from the top and hopefully that we're going to hold heads to account for their schools." |
| But Ian Finn, headteacher of a school in Burnage, Manchester, told the programme the guidelines were not necessary as behaviour was "better than ever". | But Ian Finn, headteacher of a school in Burnage, Manchester, told the programme the guidelines were not necessary as behaviour was "better than ever". |
| He said: "To think we need to hark back to the 50s and 60s... I think is wholly wrong and we need to reject it." | He said: "To think we need to hark back to the 50s and 60s... I think is wholly wrong and we need to reject it." |