Schools and parents are urged to collaborate in ensuring students attend classes and behave properly, as disruptions occur in nearly a quarter of every 30-minute lesson. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stressed the negative impact of disruptive behavior on learning and launched an initiative for “calmer classrooms.” Concerns were raised that disruptive behavior could deter other students from attending school, affecting their future prospects.
According to the Department for Education, seven out of every 30 classroom minutes are lost due to student misbehavior. As schools reopen, a new initiative will support 800 schools, catering to approximately 600,000 students, in improving attendance and behavior management.
Phillipson emphasized the long-term repercussions of missing class on children, particularly those from working-class backgrounds, aiming to address barriers hindering their progress compared to wealthier peers. She emphasized the collective responsibility of the government, schools, and parents in ensuring regular school attendance.
Before the pandemic, long-term absence rates were increasing, but they surged after the Covid lockdowns, impacting students’ engagement and mental well-being. While the number of pupils missing half of their classes rose last year, the rates of persistent absence decreased.
Phillipson highlighted the correlation between regular school attendance and academic success, emphasizing the need for schools to address individual challenges faced by students. Efforts are underway to streamline specialist support services to reduce school absences, particularly among children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Chris Paterson from the Education Endowment Foundation stressed the importance of tailored approaches to address attendance and behavior issues, emphasizing the need for schools to engage with families to identify and address individual barriers hindering students’ progress.
Jason Elsom, Chief Executive of Parentkind, highlighted the detrimental effects of poor behavior on children’s education, emphasizing the need for improved behavior management in schools. Efforts to enhance attendance and behavior through support hubs are welcomed to address behavior issues that have long been neglected.
Phillipson acknowledged the challenges of child poverty and emphasized the need for comprehensive measures to address the issue, including potential changes to social security policies. The government is working on a child poverty strategy to tackle the root causes of poverty and improve outcomes for children.
In response to concerns about immigration, Phillipson emphasized the positive contributions of immigrants to the UK and the importance of enforcing border rules fairly. She highlighted the need for Labour to focus on improving opportunities for families and communities to address underlying issues affecting society.
In summary, the government is prioritizing efforts to enhance school attendance, behavior management, and support for disadvantaged students to ensure a brighter future for all children.