Behaviour in all boys' school, absolutely horrendous

[Jorisbohnson33]

I'm working in an Islamic boys' school, granted it's the first day and I'm new to them but my lessons and form so far have been terrible.

Had heads of year and SLT members coming in. Obviously it's harder as I don't know the names etc. Yet but I'm really hoping it'll improve.

I'm not sure being a young female helps too? When their head of year and deputy head came in (both males) they cacked themselves. Well one or two still talked but mostly went silent.

I kept some behind at break a bit and spoke to them about behaviour and expectations. I've decided to give them a new start next lesson.

I guess they're trying it on a bit, I can't understand how pupils can be so disrespectful to an adult who's teaching them.
Appreciate any advice and support.

I was an NQT (now ECT) in a muslim all boys school.

It was hard at first, I have to say - they really do have a hierarchy and as an unmarried, white, non-muslim woman at 5'2" I was definitely the bottom of the pile in the eyes of many. I wish some people on here would stop pretending that religion doesn't come into it - it really, really does.

However, it didn't take me long to get established. I stopped caring what senior management thought of any removal from my class (I was in a school where removing too many sadly counted against you and someone had the bright idea to give the new girl all the bottom sets), persistently phoned the very supportive parents, made a name for myself through my willingness to help out, be a pain in the ass, using a carrot and stick approach while never raising my voice (it sounds ridiculous when most women shout) and had most classes eating out of my hands after a short while.

My worst class was a bottom set Y11, too - there were only 10 of them. I permanently removed the one who threatened to kill me and my family to a different class, sat the rest around me in a circle, never had any form of ppt on if I could avoid it and just chalked, talked and worked with mini whiteboards and it worked wonders, to the point that even the head who came in and observed this was impressed.

Work with the school policy where it's sensible and make your own system where that works better; flexibility is your friend.

And please don't bring their religion into conversation as a PP suggested; your students will know far more than you about Islam as they typically study it every day; it just makes you look ridiculous.

Impressive advice

It could be ao many factors. They have no respect (see how they are with other staff of your gender)/ they view your subject as not worth bothering with/ they're checking your boundaries. You haven't said what your ethnicity is? That may have a bearing. When I've been in schools where there is a heavy presence of one culture, there can be times when they'll talk their own language knowing you can't understand.

However, it didn't take me long to get established. I stopped caring what senior management thought of any removal from my class (I was in a school where removing too many sadly counted against you and someone had the bright idea to give the new girl all the bottom sets), persistently phoned the very supportive parents, made a name for myself through my willingness to help out, be a pain in the ass, using a carrot and stick approach while never raising my voice (it sounds ridiculous when most women shout) and had most classes eating out of my hands after a short while

only in some schools senior mgmt will stop you sending kids out and following the behaviour code and if you go against them you are finished.