Behaviour management: how strict is too strict?

Are school behaviour management policies as well draconian? Photograph: Alamy

Tim Clark, principal of Skinners’ Academy in Hackney, London, has had his method to behaviour management scrutinised in this week’s Training Guardian. His mantra? “If you have an environment that is structured, and has clear tips, pupils will be satisfied and will find out.”

Although it is challenging to argue with that, draconian discipline in schools has raised a couple of eyebrows of late. In October, there was a mass stroll out of Milford Haven college in west Wales soon after 14-year-old Rhys Johnson was taught in isolation for turning up to school with a shaved head. Although the lack of substantial follicles contravened school uniform policy, the youthful pupil had undertaken this kind of misdemeanour in the identify of charity, raising £700 for Macmillan.

When asked to comment, a college spokesman mentioned: “The pupil in query and his mom were informed of the consequences of breaking the uniform and visual appeal principles prior to doing so. When the principles had been broken, an suitable sanction was enforced, namely supervised study.”

At Tim Clark’s academy, the uniform principles are as exacting as they are unapologetic: “All pupils will search immaculate in their uniform… failure to search sensible at all occasions will end result in automatic detention, isolation or becoming sent property – there will be no warnings, you know what is anticipated.”

Even though there is no doubt that consistency is definitely important when it comes to discipline, it feels unattainable that such unwavering guidelines can be applied consistently for each little one, in every single predicament and each contravention. When there’s no area for employees – on the frontline or in senior leadership teams – to use professional discretion, you chance not only student happiness, but in some cases parental assistance and engagement with the school.

So we want to know what you consider about the behaviour management policy in your school – and far more typically. What’s a lot more essential, consistency or making certain that the punishment fits the crime? Do you find your self quietly bending the guidelines on event due to the fact they look ridiculous? Or do you just accept that for the sake of consistency, there will be unintended victims on occasion? How have the behaviour management policies changed amongst colleges that you have taught in?

Join our discussion on how rigid is too stringent in the remarks thread beneath, or alternatively, tweet us @GuardianTeach.

Behaviour management: how strict is too strict?