Teachers call for clear discipline codes

Clear discipline codes are needed to deal with unruly school pupils, Britain’s biggest teachers’ union has warned.

The National Union of Teachers has launched its charter on pupil behaviour, which is calling for the adoption of discipline codes, developed with the support of teachers and pupils and backed by parents.

The charter also calls for better clarification of teachers’ rights when dealing with violence and disruption in the classroom. The union said that many teachers feared prosecution if they restrained pupils involved in disruptive behaviour.

The charter also called for tougher exclusion powers, which would allow pupils to be excluded for persistently disruptive behaviour.

Steve Sinnott, General Secretary of the NUT, said: "Teachers have a deep commitment to the education of their pupils. They believe that no child should ever be written off. That is why support is needed to overcome the damaging behaviour of the few for their own sake and for the sake of every other child in the school.

"Currently, it is apparent that an environment exists in which some pupils believe it is acceptable to employ disruptive, abusive and, very occasionally, violent behaviour towards teachers. Sadly some parents too demonstrate a similar lack of respect. Unacceptable behaviour is the trigger for many teachers to leave the profession.”

Me Sinnott said that teachers, other staff and pupils had been “failed” if they did not feel that they were protected from physical or verbal threat at school. He said: "This Charter offers a way to try to ensure that every member of the school community can teach and learn free from fear of physical or verbal abuse or bullying. Learning and teaching are at their best when they can take place in a calm, ordered atmosphere.”

(KMcA/SP)