Quarter of teachers raise concern over behaviour

It reveals that many still believe that poor pupil behaviour is driving teachers out of the classroom, and suggests that those working in secondary schools are less positive than their primary colleagues.

The study, commissioned by the Department for Education, questioned more than 1,600 teachers about standards of behaviour in schools. The findings show that while teachers are increasingly positive about behaviour, six per cent overall still believe that it is poor, or very poor and another 19 per cent said it is “acceptable”.

Three-in-four said they thought behaviour was good or very good - a six per cent point rise compared to a previous survey in 2008. In secondary schools alone, eight per cent of teachers said behaviour was poor or very poor, while in primaries it was five per cent.

The majority of those questioned - 85 per cent - said that they feel well equipped to deal with pupil behaviour.

Half said that they thought appropriate training was available to those teachers in their school who struggle to manage difficult behaviour, while three-fifths agreed that negative pupil behaviour is driving teachers out of the profession.

The study also reveals that teachers are using praise and rewards to help control the classroom. More than four-in-five of teachers said they often use a reward system, with 91 per cent using praise for good behaviour. Two-thirds display rules in the classroom.

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: “The majority of pupils are well-behaved and want others to behave well too. This survey shows encouraging effects of the Government’s reforms, and that schools need to continue with their relentless focus on behaviour.”