Controversial Behaviour Policy changes

[Chattonnoire]

I am looking to get some insight into the changes taking places at a number of Free Schools, especially London, that have been making dramatic changes to Behaviour Policy since Michaela Community School made headlines as being the strictest school in Britain:

time.com/5232857/michaela-britains-strictest-school/

metro.co.uk/2017/09/11/britains-strictest-school-bans-pupils-from-looking-out-the-window-and-smirking-6917747/

www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/13422769.The_secrets_of_Magna_Academy_s_transformation__Students_who_walk_silently_between_lessons/

I noticed, that the comments at the end of these articles were mostly negative from parents and students in these schools, and don't appear to be in line with the "hard sell" the schools are making it out to be.

The impression is that teachers are asserting control over the difficult and disruptive students at the expense of the rest; the average student is muted in these "silent transitions" to and from classes and expressed feeling unhappy and the environment oppressive and weird.

None of the students have the authority to question the new policy, too afraid of being given 90 minutes detentions on the same day regardless of any commitments they may have (Medical or Sporting...at the expense of either their health missing long awaited NHS appointments or financial loss for missed activities to lower income families, as many students on free school meals) for often arbitrary and minor and low level disruptions such as is listed on many of these schools behaviour policies.

So they are being taught not to learn any assertiveness, question authority at any point, to conform, never to speak out, contest or oppose injustice, and may in fact have long lasting emotional and psychological negative impact on these teen developing minds in the real world, where they may not be able to defend themselves from unfair treatment from employers, or even personal relationships.

I am concerned about how fitting and convenient it is for the staff of schools in managing the delinquents, but how damaging this can potential be for bright and able children to be treated with less freedom than correctional facilities. Mental health and self harm and teen suicides statistics are already depressingly high, and with high pressured expectations and penalised for low level infractions can sabotage a once engaged teen's self esteem. A friend's 14 year old son recently committed suicide. So this really touches a raw nerve.

I've seen how a hostile school environment can crush a student with so much potential too many times.

I can't help but thinK of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall" with faceless children put through the grinder...sorry for the grim comparison....but I can't shake it.

Is this radical new Behaviour Control in developing adolescent minds a good thing, or setting them up to fail in the real world in order that the schools get "Outstanding" Ofsted reports as inspectors come and see automatons walking silently through schools for fear of punishment and exclusion?

Are any of you in these super strict schools and finding it great or awful?

*If you are a teacher or part of school staff, please indicate in your response, so an understanding of your perspective is made clear.

Thank you

Arg! Sorry to shout, but I DID NOT SAY IT WAS OK FOR IT TO BE A FREE FOR ALL IF THEY DON'T RESPECT THE TEACHER! It's straw man central around here.

And Maisy, you seriously think that gaining the respect of your pupils is just 'courting the opinions of teenagers'?! Bloody hell. I feel like I've landed on the wrong planet. You know that 'gaining respect' is not the same as 'being liked', yes?

frog
I have already said countless times I think there are 2 levels of respect.
Level 1 - basic level of respect which isn't negotiable and means manners, students following perfectly basic instructions, completing work, not talking over the teacher, not being rude to peers etc.

Level 2 - The sort of respect that comes once people know each other. The respect which develop a when a teacher has helped a student through tough times, when theyv e established their reputation and relationship with the classes, when the kids see them going the extra mile.

A teacher does not have to earn the right to tell a child to sort their uniform out, enter a classroom sensibly etc. They don't have to prove themselves for students to be quiet whilst they are teaching.

You may believe (at least I think it was you) that it's some sort of tragedy that students would behave because they have to but I disagree. That is the basic starting point from which more personal relationships can be developed.

When people start suggesting that student behaviour is dependent on whether they like or respect a member of staff and that staff have to earn the most basic level of respect then that's a sign of people thinking that reasonable behaviour is a negotiation.

I have now seen my niece and got to learn about life under the new regime.
It's a mixed bag: the corridors are calmer, quite a bit of life outsode lessons is better as it is less chaotic.
However, my niece finds the requirements of sitting bolt upright and making eye contact in lessons surprisingly taxing. In fact, they are a distraction rather than an aid to concentration and some teachers are already relaxing these parts of the policy provided the children are otherwise behaving well. The pattern seems to be that complete consistency is impossible and teachers are letting children 'earn' exceptions to the more petty rules.

It’ll be interesting to see if that undermines the behaviour policy. Better not to have the rule about eye contact, than to ‘earn’ exceptions to it and only apply it to certain pupils.

WRT sitting up straight, physical disabilities aside, this shouldn’t really be an issue. It’s a bit worrying if a lot of teens are having an issue with it.

Well, looks like all the schools are joining in:

news.sky.com/story/outrage-over-schools-ban-on-talking-between-lessons-11532574

Seems like silent corridors are catching on. This was in my local news.
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/news/croydon-news/croydon-school-bans-pupils-talking-2131812.amp

It’s definitely something all the State/Free schools are starting to do to get higher ofsted ratings. I don’t know if it’s truly beneficial for the kids going there. I can’t help but wonder how this will impact the less privileged to be compliant and silent whilst wealthy pupils are able to afford independent schools that are more normal environment that promote confidence and assertiveness. This could have long reaching social consequences.

Ninestiles is already outstanding and outside the Ofsted assessment cycle so I don’t think this is about chasing ratings.

noblegiraffe what do you think is could be? As the previous articles in my op, the reasons appear to be about improving Ofsted ratings? If school outstanding, why impose this on students doing well...or is this a larger trend even independent schools will likely follow as well

It unnerves me.

How are pupils meant to learn natural social interactions in public spaces if they are refused to opportunities to engage.

As I understand it, they have narrow corridors and they’re a trigger point for behaviour issues.

Absolute silence is probably unnecessary, but I’d think if you have narrow corridors then single file, keep to the left and hands off the walls is just common sense, rather than some draconian rule.

Isn't it because they have staggered lunch times so some students are still in lessons whilst others are on their lunch?

I think people should actually visit those schools before they judge them. Michaela school encourages visits, for example.

Cauliflowersqueeze this is precisely why I hoped to hear from those in these kinds of schools. To gain understanding of the impact these kinds of policies are having on their children and see if the students themselves are thriving or having adverse effects on their development and wellbeing.

Why not visit yourself and see first hand?