School Discipline

The Education Minister has published results from recent independent survey work with teachers, headteachers and pupils illustrating their experiences of indiscipline in their schools and what they find most difficult to contend with.

This survey was conducted with the aim of improving the way in which evidence on school discipline is obtained.
Peter Peacock said: "Today's report shows that the vast majority of the incidents teachers have to deal with in the classroom are low-level indiscipline - things like talking out of turn, children leaving their seats or eating in class. Serious violent incidents are, thankfully, still comparatively rare - but need to be tackled decisively whenever they arise. That is why I am re-iterating today that headteachers have the authority to exclude pupils whenever they feel that serious sanction must be used and that is why I removed any pressure on them to keep pupils in school in order to meet previous exclusion targets."
The new survey will be carried out every three years and will cover a wide range of behaviour and discipline issues, looking at the nature and prevalence of indiscipline, exploring reasons for changes and examining what is effective in preventing and responding to indiscipline.
For more information go to their website: www.scotland.gov.uk.