Ofsted will check how well teacher training providers are preparing new teachers to manage behaviour in the classroom, under new inspection plans.
The inspectorate has revealed today that behaviour management will be a major focus in its next framework for inspecting initial teacher education which is being introduced next year.
It said the changes would “make sure that the next generation of teachers knows the principles of behaviour management, how to teach pupils to behave and how to create an environment that focuses on learning.”
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Ofsted will consult on its proposals for how it will do this early next year.
Chief inspector Amanda Spielman said: “Our new initial teacher education inspection framework will have a focus on behaviour management.
“That way, the next generation of trainee teachers will understand the important principles of behaviour management, how to teach pupils to behave and how to create an environment where pupils can learn.”
Ofsted has also published a commentary today from Ms Spielman on how the inspectorate recommends schools should manage behaviour, following new research carried out by the inspectorate.
It says schools should have a whole-school behaviour management policy that is “clear, consistent and communicated to staff, pupils and parents”.
She also said schools should embed routines to minimise disruption to ensure classroom lessons run smoothly and that pupils should move safely around the school.
Ofsted has separated pupils’ personal development and behaviour and attitudes into two inspection judgements under its new inspection regime for schools, which started last week.
The inspectorate said its recent research into teacher wellbeing found that, while the vast majority of pupils behave well, low-level disruption remains a source of concern for many classroom teachers.
Many teachers told the inspectorate that they felt senior leaders and parents provided insufficient support for tackling poor classroom behaviour.
A separate study has found that teaching assistants are dissuaded from pursuing teacher training because of behaviour management and the workload involved.
Earlier this year, the government set out plans for a £10 million initiative to tackle bad behaviour in schools. It will see more than 500 schools receive advice from other expert exemplar schools on dealing with poor pupil behaviour and will be led by the DfE’s behaviour tsar Tom Bennett.
