how to behave

From time to time discipline in schools rises to the top of the political agenda and in response the guidance issued by the DfES is progressively tweaked.

What is always emphasised in that guidance is the fact that exclusion should only be used as a matter of last resort and only in response to a serious breach of a school’s discipline policy and if the conduct of the pupil seriously prejudices the welfare and education of others at the school.

It is often only when faced with extreme behaviour that a school may have a re-think about their behaviour policy. New guidance published to help formulate behaviour policies may offer schools some help in that regard; it covers all aspects of the school’s obligations and powers to manage behaviour in school – rewards, punishment, powers to confiscate etc.

It is well worth a look if you are having a re-think – it might even be useful in heading-off some of that extreme behaviour. Click here to view.

striking staff and reinstated pupils

The case of R(O) v Governors of P School (2007) was a timely reminder of how courts will approach the difficult issue of educating reinstated pupils where staff refuse to teach.