A new working group has been set up to consider ways to improve discipline in the classroom, including greater sanctions for parents and more power for head teachers.
The Leadership Group on Behaviour and Discipline, announced last week by new schools minister Jacqui Smith, will advise the government on achieving effective discipline in the classroom and delivering a “culture of respect” in all schools.
The group, to be made up of heads and teachers nominated by their peers and teaching unions for their proven track record in managing behaviour, will consider an extension of heads’ powers to deal with unruly behaviour. Heads’ wishes could also be given priority in decisions about excluding pupils.
Consideration will be given to additional penalties for parents, on top of existing penalty fines and parenting orders and contracts, to ensure they take responsibility for their children’s behaviour in school.
The merits of providing teachers with additional training to ensure they are “fully equipped to manage poor behaviour” will also be up for debate, as will the grounds for a national discipline code.
The group, to be chaired by Sir Alan Steer of the Seven Kings School in Ilford, will produce a detailed report by the end of October.
