Teachers-what sanctions are in place for poor behaviour?

[deaddei]

Does it vary from school to school. or are there certain guidelines head must follow?
There are a number of girls in dds teaching group who are severely disruptive- spent most of yr 7 on report and in yr 8 too.
Today, one teacher burst into tears at their behaviour- I have written to head of year today asking for a meeting to discuss how my dd's schooling is being affected by their behaviour.

[GrungeBlobPrimpants]

Am not a teacher but secondary parent - our school has very clear sanctions and rewards ladder which seems to be well enforced combined with a good pastoral team. There were some issues in Year 7 which were addressed (it was an issue brought up with form teachers/head of year by several parents). As the problem was (largely) with one group in one form, the group was split up across different forms and that has made a lot of difference.

But I wouldn't class any of them as severely disruptive - more severely irritating iykwim.

[MaureenMLove]

Schools have their own code of conduct in the classroom.

Poor, poor woman, if she broke down today. No-one should have to put up with that.

What sort of disruption do you mean?

[Morosky]

I don't really deal with behaviour on that level, but we have a range of sanctions that are well used. They include

Notes in planner
A written punishment activity
Break time, lunch time and after school detentions
Lunchtime isolation
Full day isolation
Removal of privelidges
Removal from sports teams
exclusions
Litter picking
reports

[nickytwotimes]

Dh is a secondary teacher.

It does vary. Unfortunately, teachers are sometimes not backed up by their senior management team.

You are right to ask for a meeting. That is totally unacceptable.

[duckyfuzz]

varies from school to school, most follow a series of steps e.g. warning, name on board/noted, demerit (or equivalent), break detention, after school detention, sent to isolation. Head of year really ought to be on top of girls like this before they get worse - which they will!

[deaddei]

There are a hard core of about 5 of them, and they call out, wander about, - up to 20 minutes of lessons are being lost before teachers get them to settle down. They are behind on their science curriculum, so all the "fun" end of term stuff isn't happening this week.
They don't care about being on report- more to the point, their parents don't.
We are hoping that the group will be split across the other groups as in your case GrungeBPP (WONDERFUL MAME BTW!)

I think this teacher just had enough- about 15 of them (including the hangers on) were refusing to do anything. Luckily dd's tutor passed by and sorted things out.

[Morosky]

It needs to be established if this is happening in one lesson or if the girls are behaving this way across a number of lessons, as different measure will be neede accordingly.

I think you have done the right thing and you should encourage others to so the same.

[deaddei]

Nicky- head is very good- it is an outstanding school.
I will certainly be taking things up with her if I get no joy. Luckily dd is highly thought of and head knows me (in a good way!)

[deaddei]

Morosky- it seems to be in quite a few lessons with different teachers.
DDs best friend is in same group- her mum and I are both singing from the same hymn sheet!

[Morosky]

Make that clear deaddei, name the lessons so it is plain that this is not about a teacher not being able to handle a class, they are being willfully disruptive.

[deaddei]

Yes have written it all down. That's what I thought at first- might be a weak teacher, but it's most lessons.

[Morosky]

If you can take some of your dd exercise books into the meeting, this will either show:

1 Your dd is not getting the work done because of disruption
2 Your dd is getting twice as much work done as the girls in question - evidence they are doing nothing , bar disrupting the learning of others.

[GrungeBlobPrimpants]

Deaddei (I do wear prim pants)

I second what other posters say about acting early because if left untackled it will definitely get worse. I mentioned the issue to form teacher and felt very embarrassed doing so but glad I did. If the school gets several complaints from several parents it will have to tackle it head on.

[deaddei]

Thankyou for all your helpful comments.
Dd has ocd, which means she really has to work hard concentrating and when things happen around her, it gets so much harder for her.
She loves school so much- always there early- does extra work- but said it was the worst day ever today because of all the upset. She wants to go and apologise to the weeping teacher tomorrow on behalf of the class (I hope said teacher has had a huge glassof wine tonight)

[AMerryScot]

Every school should have a behaviour/sanctions pathway.

In each school I have taught it, it has been the responsibility of the subject teacher and their department for anything that happens in lessons. If it is out of lessons, then the form tutor and pastoral team. If poor behaviour continues, then it can go straight to management.

It is important to be consistent with the child in question, and for the staff to work as a team.

I find a stiff talking to works most of the time (with notice that a detention will follow if they continue). I may also deduct a house point, but I usually reserve this punishment for not coming to lessons fully equipped.

Then, I will issue a lunchtime detention, which usually involves some kind of job that I want done, eg sanding my benches or some kind of cleaning.

If this doesn't work (ie their behaviour doesn't improve or they don't show), then I would escalate up the ladder and let middle management deal with it.

If parents are to be called in, then middle management will do that. I wouldn't initiate contact with parents on my own, mostly because if behaviour is this bad, then it is probably across more than one subject. If it is just a problem with me, I will work on building the relationship between me and the pupil.

Fortunately, most of this is hypothetical, and we get clear on expectations early in the year.

[AMerryScot]

If there is a small mob going around school terrorising every class they are in, there needs to be a whole-school approach. Senior management needs to be involved. It is not fair on the other students or on the teachers. They will be making the teachers feel de-skilled, which will have a knock on to other lessons, and to the teachers' wellbeing.

[OneTwoBuckleMyShoe]

It sounds to me like weak SMT or Head if this is happening in several lessons across the school. A single teacher can only do so much without support from the top.

In our school we have very strong leadership so problems like this are nipped in the bud as soon as possible. However if the parents are as you describe the school will face an extra challenge there.

[deaddei]

Well head of year just called.
6 girls given internal exclusions till end of week, all parents informed that next step next term will be external exclusion.
Dd came home saying how WONDERFUL lessons were- and said if they were all like that good "how much more could I learn".
I have a meeting with head of year 1st week back so let's see.

[GrungeBlobPrimpants]

Wow that was quick work! A good early Christmas present for your dd and her mates too I think. Fantastic news.

[Morosky]

I am glad something was done.