what's normal? Secondary school behaviour question

[segment5]

There probably is no 'normal' when it comes to schools but... my DD recently qualified, she trained in two challenging schools but both had very clear behaviour policies and she felt supported. She now has her first role in a school that has no clear policy and I'm actually quite worried about her!

I want to be able to reassure her and give her advice but I'm a bit clueless. The school she is in now is a 'good' school but she has to deal with the following:

• no clear start time for lessons, students trickling in
• chaos in corridors
• pupils who are not supposed to be in her class charging in during lessons.
• pupils smashing up against the door, making a racket outside during her lessons.
• expletives regularly being used in the classroom, directed towards her and between students
• Pupils threatening her and each other
• regular phone use despite 'no-phone' policy

etc.... etc....

She has spoken to the SLT but they have told her that she just needs to build relationships with the pupils and that they are testing her. She is a strong and confident character but she feels she has no way of establishing any boundaries because there are no clear sanctions, no clear policy. She did really well during her training year and is teaching in a shortage subject so I'm not too worried about her future prospects if this doesn't work out. Sorry if I sound naive but, is this kind of environment very common in secondary schools? What's scary is that it was judged as 'good' by Ofsted just last year, and behaviour was praised!

Hi
Sorry but sounds about right for an average MAT academy. Most SLT are overpromoted and overpaid and very ineffective. I would be looking at another school however I am confused about no starting time. In every school I have been on there is usually a late sanction except from when I worked in a secondary alternative provision. You need to build a thick skin in modern teaching times in secondary.

She should leave ASAP. That is not the norm in any school I've been in.

She needs to get out. The last school I worked in was exactly like that and it ended my career. It’s now in special measures though at least.

The issue in your daughter's school is the lack of a clear behaviour policy and the SLT! Telling her to 'build relationships' amid chaos like that is frankly ridiculous and indicates that the SLT are either clueless, don't want to deal with behaviour, or both.

My previous school (was there 6 years) was great when I first started- clear policy and a very supportive Headteacher who ensured SLT actually supported.
I left 3 years ago and could see that behaviour was massively deteriorating because of wooly policies and lack of action from above. Friends who still work there now say it's dire.

By contrast, I now teach in a secondary in one of the most deprived towns in the country. 60% of our children live in the most deprived wards. There are huge socio-economic issues. However, when you walk around our school, it's lovely! Students are in lessons, learning - teachers can teach. Students engage in extra curricular, they are polite and respectful. Our relationships with them are strong.
Yes, some do misbehave sometimes, of course they do! They are kids and will try it on but out systems and strong and supported and SLT don't let anything slide.

My advice to your daughter is to go elsewhere. She teaches a shortage subject- she will get a job!

Thank you for this advice everyone. Similar to your experience @PumpkinPie2016 she trained in schools in some of the most deprived areas of the country but they had behaviour policies and a proactive SLT. The schools therefore felt safe and she felt in control and supported. She could also actually teach. She can’t teach in this school. It does indeed sound as if she needs to look elsewhere.

Without a change of leadership this will not change.

It will erode her confidence, waste her time, de-skill her from being able to apply teaching methods.

It is a lose lose lose situation- she must not under any circumstance think she will be able to make a difference or feel a sense of responsibility to the undoubtedly lovely children who are being overlooked in the school. She must assertively leave as quickly as possible.

I'd argue it's her duty to leave actually, so she doesn't get burnt out (or even injured). That way the profession as a whole keeps a teacher.

She may have missed the resignation deadline for September though - she should check her contract.

As part of her induction she should have access to all school policies. The behaviour policy is a statutory one in the UK that has to be in place and reviewed annually. It should be on the school website.
Resignation date is the end of May. If she is an ECT she can take her experience to another school if necessary.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/behaviour-and-discipline-in-schools-guidance-for-governing-bodies

I think as an NQT she is worried that leaving will look bad on her CV and also that she might not get a good reference. I hope I can convince her to follow the excellent advice given here.

Schools are a small world. The other schools will know exactly what this one is like!