Julian Stanley, Chief Executive of Teacher Support Network and Nick Gibb MP, Minister of State for Schools

Nick Gibb MP says that ‘tackling’ poor behaviour in schools is a ‘key priority’ for the coalition government. Speaking at a breakfast fringe event at the Conservative Party Conference this morning, the Minister of State for Schools said that until the issue of behaviour had been addressed, it would be “virtually impossible to raise academic standards in our schools.”

“Government has a responsibility to ensure high standards. Schools have a responsibility to promote an ethos of excellence and aspiration with opportunities for extra curricular activities and sport, but it’s a responsibility of pupils and their parents to ensure that behaviour at school is of a standard that delivers a safe and happy environment in which children can concentrate and learn” said Nick Gibb. “We will support them by giving teachers and headteachers the powers they need to effectively deal with poor behaviour.”

The event, held by Teacher Support Network and Parentline Plus, comes as a new survey revealed that 92 per cent of teachers who responded to the 2010 Behaviour Survey said that pupil behaviour had got worse over the course of their career, and follows the Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove’s announcement of a ‘new deal’ for teachers on classroom discipline.

“Teachers must be able to take action immediately if they wish to tackle poor behaviour without having to go through statutory bureaucratic hurdles” explained Nick Gibb.

One of the new measures suggested is anonymity for teachers facing false allegations.

“93 per cent of teachers that responded to the survey said anonymity to teachers who face a formal allegation by a pupil is essential or important” said Julian Stanley, Chief Executive of Teacher Support Network. “We know from speaking to an increasing number of wrongly accused teachers through our Support Lines every year that these allegations not only cause severe emotional distress and anxiety, but also undermine confidence, have long-term mental health implications and may even drive some teachers from the profession entirely. In short, these allegations can wreck not just the careers, but also the lives of the teachers involved. Teachers must be fully supported and protected.”

Other changes include the abolition of 24 hours notice for detentions and shorter, clearer guidance on disciplinary powers.

Jeremy Todd, Chief Executive at Parentline Plus, said: “Parentline Plus believes that children learn best when school discipline and learning is reinforced in the home. We recognise that many parents struggle to cope at different points in their child's life. In some regions we have Parent Support Workers in schools who act as a liaison between the school and the parents of children who display challenging or bullying behaviour. These specialist workers have been very effective, helping families to manage their child's behaviour and fostering a better relationship between family and school. There are undoubtedly great challenges for schools when classroom discipline is not backed up in the home environment. We would like to see more support made available to parents to enable them to overcome any barriers and effectively engage with their child's learning. We would also like to see schools harness new developments in technology whilst retaining personalised, positive and relevant communications with families. Parentline Plus provides support to parents who feel that they need it. Anyone facing challenges in raising a child can call our 24 hour a day helpline (0808 800 2222) and talk to someone.”