Is behaviour out of control in a lot of schools?

[Sophie12319]

Not sure whether to move DD (10) to another school. Everyday she's coming home saying she can't learn as there are a group of boys who throw stuff about the classroom, shout out when the teacher is talking, walk about the classroom in lesson. She has said teacher has sent them to headteacher in the past but it carries on.

This is not a teacher bashing thread btw (in fact, I have the upmost respect for DD's teacher as I have seen the boys behaviour at the school gate and I don't know how she does a whole day), maybe more of a parent bashing of why some parents let their kids behave like this?

Anyway, back to the point of thread, I spoke to my sister about moving her to which she said there's no point as he DS' school is the same.
Feel a bit hopeless as I feel DD's education is being ruined! I've emailed the school before about their behaviour but I feel at a loss!

I've worked in schools for a fair few years.
Behavior now is worse than it ever has been.

@cryinglaughing I just don't understand how it's for children's learning to be ruined by some other children?? I thought it'd be great to move her to her cousins school (which used to have a good rep) just for my sister to say he basically has the same problems in his class🤐

I’ve been teaching for more than 15years. Post covid behaviour is atrocious. Kids think they can do what they like and are often backed up by parents when sanctions are applied.

Ah this thread is not giving me hope 😭 we don't have many schools in our area and I can't afford a private education.
I can actually see why teacher retention so low if this is the norm for behaviour9 !

Going by my DGC schools it's all going to hell in a handbasket with senior management (the HT) doing bugger-all about it.
And the staff are demoralised and take it out on the kids. So vicious circle of dreadful behaviour.

I despair as to whether they'll come out with any qualifications at all.

And we're not talking inner-city here either.

The primary schools near me don't have any real problems with behaviour. The secondary schools though...! A very different matter.

@Nanny0gg yes same with DD's school! I asked DD whether the teacher can send them out, and DD said she does but they come back to class a few minutes later and carry on!

Same problem at my sons state secondary - we will move him in September into a small private who are very hot on behaviour . We are old so have been able to access some pension 🥲

I've been teaching for 30 years and I'd absolutely agree with this. Y7s are obnoxious at my school. I don't expect to be dealing with poor behaviour from an 11 year old who thinks they can do as they like - but this is the reality of post Covid behaviour. All my colleagues are saying the same.

@TheYearOfSmallThings DD's school is a nursery to sixth form school so she'll probably be going to high school here so if primary is this bad, I dread to think high school!

I've been teaching 25 years and behaviour is the worst I've ever seen it. Atrocious.

Two children in two different schools. One is absolutely appalling behaviour and the other the children are well behaved.

In Scotland the Scottish government is fundamentally anti-exclusion, violent disruptive kids rule the roost knowing the entire school management is utterly powerless. Nothing we can do because fools keep voting for these idiots and their ‘progressive’ ideas. It’s hopeless.

I've been a primary teacher for nearly 13 years and behaviour is a lot worse post covid.

Yes of course its dreadful. The do-gooders got rid of all displine and respect is a dirty word now.
It won't get any better either.

One of the reasons I left teaching, I taught a practical subject classes were massive, too large for the classroom, lots of children with behavioural difficulties, no class support. You were meant to send an email to the duty team for them to come pick up disruptive students but they rarely came. When you gave sanctions they students just laughed and said they wouldn't be doing it and their parents back them up. I felt terrible for the well behaved students and had to cancel practicals mid lesson as it was unsafe.

DD is 11 and her class is like this too and has been for at least a year. Both last year and this year they have (had) very young teachers, this year's is only just qualified and the last was teaching whilst in her last year of training as they couldn't get a qualified teacher. The boys also made lots of unsavoury comments towards them. It's quietened down a bit since the school had a new head, but now the comments are aimed at the girls in DD's class instead.

Had anyone actually done a study into this (to prove it's not anecdata / isolated)? I'm not saying it's not true, just interested to see if it's really widespread - and if yes, why?

It’s ridiculous isn’t it? I’m in a very high attaining school where the parents complain if the staff breathe the wrong way but for some reason aren’t up in arms about the 5 S1 boys regularly having violent meltdowns, tipping tables, being verbally and physically abusive to other pupils and staff. SMT are powerless and the pupils know it.

I don’t want to be a teacher any more.

Yep. I’d agree.

I have 2 teens in 2 different state secondaries and it’s awful.

my DD has just been put in detention (not behaviour related) the teacher sounded really surprised when I said I supported them and what I was doing to punish her at home.

I got the impression she was expecting me to argue with the decision.

The people blaming (presumably 'leftie') 'do gooders' seem to forget our far-from-centre right government have done nothing whatever to help the situation in 13 years. A country run on the right to buy whatever you want 'because you're worth it' was bound to end up like this sooner or later and covid was another exacerbating factor. I won't say it was the final straw because I think we are a long, long way from the final straw.

@Singleandproud it's such a shame because it ruins it for the children who want to behave that their practicals have to be stopped! Not bashing you for stopping it btw as teachers have look after their own selves as they're already in a vulnerable position!
But what was your head like? I wish my Dad's headteacher would do more - maybe take the disruptive ones out of practical lessons or even excpel them? I've never worked in schools though so I don't really know the ins and outs so could be in la la land

DD has no TA in her class either so I feel sorry for her teacher just as much as I feel sorry for DD.

There is nothing schools can do because parents will always vouch for their children, excuse their behaviour, blame everyone but their own child - and the children know it. So there’s no incentive to behave, and no sanctions that they respect.
You are right, OP, that this has had a huge impact on teacher retention.
DS tell us about children sent to the Head, only to return minutes later, and seemingly unaffected. I remember being sent to the Head as something to be really ashamed of!

I’m dreading sending my DC to secondary school…

I know two of the unions in Scotland have. From one of their websites:

Well, speaking of one of my DGC, their year was hideous at primary, wasn't dealt with then and has gone further downhill into secondary