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The Commission on School Reform today calls for
new Scottish Government guidance aimed at
“creating order in schools”.
The Commission, established by Enlighten,
the independent public policy institute which
works to promote increased economic prosperity,
opportunity for all, and more effective public
services, has published a new paper in which they
conclude:
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There is a serious and growing behavioural
problem in Scottish schools
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The poor behaviour of a minority adversely
affects the education of all pupils
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Behavioural problems create stress for
teachers, resulting in poor recruitment and
retention
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Indiscipline has contributed to Scotland's
decline in international comparisons of
international standards
The paper recommends that the Scottish Government
issue guidance which:
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Starts from the standpoint that young people
have a right to an education that is not
disrupted by the conduct of others.
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Recognises the need for sanctions including,
in serious cases, suspension by the
headteacher and exclusion (removal to another
school by the local authority)
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Emphasises the key role of senior management
in schools
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Recognises the need for support from parents
and promotes home/school partnerships.
The full paper can be read here.
Carole Ford, former head teacher and
member of the Commission on School Reform,
said:
“There has clearly been a loss of respect for
education in some families. Support for teachers
is not as strong as in the past, and there is a
greater tendency for parents to side with their
children against the authority of the school.
“The periods of lockdown in 2020 and 2021
accelerated these trends. The lack of any
national post-Covid educational catch-up
programme in Scotland seems to have confirmed
some parents in the view that society no longer
deems education to be as important as in the
past.
“All this is having a negative impact on
behaviour. To make matters worse, current
government guidance tends to imply that bad
behaviour on the part of pupils is the fault of
the teacher or of some shortcoming in the
organisation of the school. Such guidance
is both counter-productive and inaccurate.
“New national guidance should recognise the need
for schools to be able to withdraw the right to
attend from pupils guilty of persistent or
extreme behavioural problems. In some cases this
would be ‘suspension' for a short period, in
others ‘exclusion' - the permanent withdrawal of
the right to attend at least the specific school
in question.”
Enlighten's Director Chris Deerin
said:
“We know from the latest PISA results that
academic standards in Scotland schools are
declining at a worrying rate. This latest paper
from the Commission on School Reform highlights
the association between these falling standards,
poor attendance and poor behaviour.
“The Commission has, once again, fearlessly
articulated what they have called ‘an unthinking
sense of entitlement' which has developed since
the Covid school closures.
“The Scottish Government should feel compelled to
listen to this body of experts in order to, as
they have written, restore order in schools.”
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
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