Improving Behaviour in Schools: Guidance Report

Abstract

There is much research on the ramifications of poor pupil behaviour on the school learning environment. It is one of the most difficult tasks that both experienced and new teachers have to contend with in schools2and one of the perennial issues that affects teacher retention.3 However, while behaviour is a significant issue affecting teachers in many schools, most pupils in most lessons behave well. As for classroom and school behaviour worsening over time, it has been common since ancient times to perceive the younger generation as behaving worse than their predecessors, but teacher voice surveys show that the proportion of teachers saying behaviour at their school is good or better has been fairly stable at 70-76% over the last 10 years4: the problem is significant but not spiralling out of control.Ofsted data provides an enlightening starting point for school leaders aiming to improve behaviour in their school:• Even in schools where behaviour is judged by Ofsted to be inadequate overall, the behaviour in most classrooms is rated more highly.• The main area for improvement when addressing behaviour is most often consistency.