A government clampdown on disruptive classroom behaviour risks giving the “inaccurate and unhelpful” impression that problems are rife in schools, say headteachers.

The warning, from the NAHT school leaders’ union, is contained in its response to a Department for Education (DfE) consultation on pupil behaviour.

The response, seen by Tes, states: “A school has to set boundaries and be the place in the community where a pupil feels safe.”

But it also says: “The current focus upon addressing disruptive behaviour, while welcome, risks creating the public impression that such disruption represents the majority of settings, and this is both inaccurate and unhelpful.”

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The union confirmed to Tes that it was referring to the DfE’s focus on disruptive behaviour.

Instead, the consultation response calls for the “very positive behaviour that is the norm in schools” to be “more widely celebrated and affirmed by all partners to promote a more positive public awareness of the strengths of the education system”.

The union also emphasised its belief that decisions regarding behaviour management should be taken on a school-by-school basis, “as school communities bring a variety of challenges and these differ by area and by school”.

Concerns over ‘harmful sexual behaviour’

However, the union did acknowledge that one area of concern that it has seen is the “increasing incidence of concerning and/or harmful sexual behaviour exhibited by pupils”.

The need for improved teacher training

Other concerns highlighted in the NAHT’s consultation response include:

• The funding mechanism for settings such as alternative provision creating ”uncertainty” and “unhelpful volatility”. 

•  A need for more resources and support for pupils suffering from special educational needs and disability and/ or mental health issues at risk of exclusion.

• The need for improved teacher training, to include child development, attachment and trauma-informed practice.

• The “wide disparity of provision across the country in terms of support in dealing with children who exhibit aggressive and/or violent behaviour in schools”.

‘Playing to the backbenchers on behaviour’

Getting the the DfE consultation under way in June, education secretary Gavin Williamson said: “No parent wants to send their child to a school where poor behaviour is rife. Every school should be a safe place that allows young people to thrive and teachers to excel.”

However, ever since the start, this behaviour push has faced criticism, including from ASCL school leaders’ union general secretary Geoff Barton, who has accused the education secretary of “playing to backbenchers” on the subject.

ASCL’s own consultation response said Mr Williamson’s “fixation” on banning mobile phones from schools, as part of his focus on behaviour, showed he was “outdated and out of touch”.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “The majority of schools manage behaviour well, but every school should be a safe place that allows young people to thrive and teachers to excel.

“In order for us to help pupils overcome the challenges from the pandemic and increase opportunity for all young people, we need to ensure they can benefit from calm school environments, and we are committed to improving good behaviour and discipline to support that.”