Jayne Dowle: I salute the idea of a strict '˜sergeant major' in schools

I'M thinking of applying for a job. There's an opportunity at a school in North London for a 'sergeant major'. My children say that I am highly-qualified for the role, so that's my referees sorted out.
Should all schools have a sergeant major to impose discipline? Jayne Dowle makes the case.Should all schools have a sergeant major to impose discipline? Jayne Dowle makes the case.
Should all schools have a sergeant major to impose discipline? Jayne Dowle makes the case.

It’s at Michaela Community School in Wembley, a secondary free school run by a notoriously strict headmistress, Katharine Birbalsingh. Her behaviour policy includes punishing pupils for “slouching” and “daydreaming”.

We would get along just fine. As my teenage son Jack would attest, I can’t abide “slouching”, especially at the dinner table. I’m trying to get through to him that it suggests disrespect and a lack of interest in what’s happening around him. If he’s doing that when he’s supposed to be eating his tea and engaging in family conversation, I can’t imagine what he’s up to in science on a Monday morning.

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As for our Lizzie, she’s mostly a model pupil and never forgets her homework or tries to get out of any school-related task, however onerous. I do know though that she finds the constant distraction in her classroom very difficult to deal with.

This is a problem I hear constantly from both teachers and pupils. While most of the class wants to listen to the teacher and get on with their learning, there is always a noisy minority causing trouble. This creates not only acute and immediate difficulties for the pupils and teaching staff but it also has a detrimental effect on the school overall.

Ofsted inspectors are very keen on orderly and obedient schools. I’ve read damning reports of places brought to special measures because youngsters are racing up and down the corridors shouting and yelling. You might think it’s the responsibility of teachers to deal with this, but frankly in most schools they have enough on just organising the lessons.

In a big inner-city school such as this one with the vacancy in Wembley, I really can see the need for an extra pair of firm hands. The job spec says that the role isn’t suited to a would-be counsellor or someone who wants to be every child’s best friend. It’s for an individual who believes that children need clear, firm discipline.

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That’s been the problem in too many of our schools for too long now. There has been far too much leniency given to badly-behaved pupils. I’ve seen plenty 
of instances in primary school, for instance, where bullying has been excused because the perpetrator is judged “misunderstood”.

I’ve seen teachers fall over themselves to excuse name-calling, pinching, biting and general nastiness, instead of taking the little horror to task. Meanwhile, the poor victims of such inexcusable behaviour are left bewildered. If children start off their school career believing that such transgressions will be condoned, what hope is there by the time they reach secondary school?

In fact, I’d go as far as to say that it’s time schools got tougher throughout the system. From the age of four or five upwards, a firm stance sends a clear message that a school is a place 
of learning, concentration and focus, 
not a fairground where you can cause mayhem.

On this, I didn’t agree with much of what the former Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, did. However, I do think that the rigour he introduced both to the curriculum and school standards is now having a measurably positive effect. That said, too many schools are still facing problems with 
the attitude and rudeness of pupils, 
and constant challenging and flouting 
of the rules.

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It’s not like this in the independent sector, I can tell you. I visit such a school in Wakefield twice a term to help out with their student newspaper. Here is a place where pupils open doors for every adult from the headmaster to the cleaning lady. The boys walk in the corridors, never run. Some of the boys are cheeky in class, others will always answer back or sulk. The over-riding atmosphere though is one of calmness and serenity.

No wonder independent schools score so highly on exam results and rates of university admission. Their pupils not only learn their lessons, they learn 
how to behave appropriately and they also know how to carry themselves in civilised society.

I don’t want to see a world in which only those privileged to attend such schools get all the best chances in life. I want my two, who will both have spent five years at an academy school by the time they are 16, to be able to compete on equal terms with the best when it comes to further education and the workplace. Anything which might help with this is welcomed by me.

The salary for this job is £35,000 a year. I’d say that this controversial post is worth every penny. The pupils won’t think so. The teachers might be a bit wary. However, every college and university and employer I can imagine would be grateful if there could be a sergeant major not just in this school, but at every one in the country.