Commenting on the Government’s announcement on pupil behaviour and attendance, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“It is correct to say schools need more support and teachers need more back up on student behaviour. We also agree it has got to be a partnership between parents/carers and schools. Sharing good ideas and expertise between schools always bears fruit so more capacity via hubs is a good step and will restore some of what was lost under austerity.
We have seen in the GCSE results that the expectations in GCSEs are too much stretch for a big cohort of students - so we need more flexibility in capturing what students can do and have achieved. The NEU think that there is a link to the amount of content in GCSEs and endless high stakes tests, which can de-motivate some students rather than inspire engagement and progress. Much of national education policies have turned students into numbers rather than rounded people with different and unique skills and that needs to be part of the conversation about how schools support positive behaviour and good outcomes for every young person.
All plans and initiatives to help on behaviour must come with a narrative of support, evidence and building solutions, not blame, shaming or judgement.''