Pupil behaviour 'getting worse' at schools in England, say teachers.

A new report from the BBC which is out today states that Pupil behaviour 'getting worse' at schools in England.

Nearly one in five teachers in England has been hit by a pupil this year, a survey commissioned by the BBC says.

One teacher told BBC News behaviour was a "never-ending battle". Another said spitting, swearing and chair-throwing were among the things happening often.

A union says its members are reporting worsening violence and abuse from pupils since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Department for Education (DfE) says it has invested £10m in behaviour hubs to support schools.

Using the survey tool Teacher Tapp, BBC News asked up to 9,000 teachers in England in February and March a series of questions about their experiences with behaviour in the classroom.

A greater proportion of primary and secondary teachers reported pupils fighting, pushing and shoving compared with two years ago.

Lorraine Meah has been a primary school teacher for 35 years, for the last five of which she has chosen to do supply work - covering lessons on an ad-hoc basis - because it is more flexible. Over that time, she says pupils' behaviour has worsened.

The BBC News report discusses a concerning trend of worsening pupil behaviour in schools across England. The issues range from violence and spitting to swearing and chair-throwing, indicating an overall increase in challenging behaviour. The Department for Education (DfE) has invested £10m in behaviour hubs to support schools.

This is how Behaviour Smart could help address the issues raised in the BBC News report. Behaviour Smart is a behaviour support and incident recording system that could potentially help address these issues. Here’s a more detailed look at how:

1.             Incident Recording: Behaviour Smart provides a platform for easy logging of any notable behaviour. This includes both positive behaviour and actions, as well as incidents of poor behaviour. The ability to record incidents in real time allows for immediate intervention and follow-up, which can help to mitigate the impact of negative behaviour. Furthermore, the system’s ability to record positive behaviour can help schools to reinforce good behaviour through recognition.

2.             Behaviour Plans: Behaviour Smart produces smart behaviour plans. These plans are designed to improve behaviour and consistency across the school. They can be tailored to individual students, taking into account their unique needs and circumstances. This personalised approach can be particularly effective in managing and improving challenging behaviour

3.             Time Efficiency: One of the key features of Behaviour Smart is its ability to reduce paperwork. This allows staff to spend more time working directly with students, which can lead to better relationships and improved behaviour. Furthermore, the system’s user-friendly interface and streamlined processes can help to reduce the administrative burden on staff, allowing them to focus on their core teaching responsibilities.

4.             Data Analysis: Behaviour Smart provides powerful tools for analysing behaviour data. This can help schools to identify patterns and trends in behaviour, which can inform the development of effective behaviour management strategies. The system’s reporting capabilities also make it easy to monitor the progress of individual students and the effectiveness of behaviour plans.

In summary, Behaviour Smart provides a comprehensive suite of tools that could help schools to address the behaviour issues highlighted in the BBC report. By improving incident recording, behaviour management, time efficiency, and data analysis, schools can take a proactive approach to managing and improving pupil behaviour. However, it’s important to note that the effectiveness of these tools will depend on their implementation and the specific context of each school.

Check out the full report here https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-68674568