Behaviour

The latest news, analysis and best-practice advice on managing pupil behaviour, including everything from new policy to cutting-edge research

Friday

2nd Jan 2026

Behaviour in schools: what will 2026 bring?
What impact will the RISE attendance and behaviour hubs and schools White Paper have on classroom disruption this year? Tom Bennett looks ahead
Student getting a bad grade

Thursday

18th Dec 2025

DfE issues guidance on use of restraint in schools
School staff have a ‘legal power’ to use ‘reasonable force’ to prevent students from causing injury, damage or disorder, or committing a crime, the updated DfE guidance says
Restraint in schools

Friday

12th Dec 2025

Safeguarding review on ‘zero tolerance’ sparks national row
Hackney safeguarding chair will write to the education secretary to voice concerns over criticism of the review from DfE behaviour ambassador Tom Bennett
A safeguarding review which strongly criticised the impact of school behaviour policies on vulnerable students has sparked a major row involving the Department for Education. The Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review into Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy (MVPA) in East London has warned that the school simultaneously achieves remarkable academic success while causing harm to some of its most vulnerable pupils. The review warned of the impact of behaviour policies such as shouting at students and applyi
Exclusive

Thursday

11th Dec 2025

Ofsted warns against ‘inflexible’ school rules for pupils with SEND
Too many students with SEND are leaving the school system because of ‘missed opportunities’ to identify their needs early on, says watchdog’s report
Ofsted and the CQC have published a report into children with SEND who are not in school.

Tuesday

9th Dec 2025

‘Rigid’ behaviour policies under fire in safeguarding review
‘Zero-tolerance’ discipline risks harming vulnerable students at London academy, finds independent report
Classroom
Bringing common sense back into leadership: the 4 Ts model
Too often school leaders are guilty of overcomplicating things, says this assistant head, who shares a simple but effective leadership approach
Montage of four Ts

Tuesday

2nd Dec 2025

Ofsted chief’s warning over ‘scandal’ of children missing education
Sir Martyn Oliver hopes the watchdog’s new inspection framework will result in a ‘system-wide behaviour shift on inclusion’
Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver
Why we haven’t suspended or excluded a student for seven years
An assistant headteacher explains the practical ways in which her school has implemented a policy of not removing young people from school
Eggs in a carton

Thursday

27th Nov 2025

Most students see phones being used in class against school rules
DfE survey finds more than half of secondary school students saw mobile phones being used when not allowed at least some of the time
Most students see their classmates using a mobile phone against school rules at least some of the time, a DfE survey has revealed.

Wednesday

26th Nov 2025

6 ways international schools can boost belonging and inclusion
From toy ducks and bears to the value of culture fairs, here are the key insights from COBIS’ conference on developing a sense of belonging in international schools
How international schools can improve belonging and inclusion

Tuesday

25th Nov 2025

The view from Peru: teaching in South America’s third-largest country
Four leaders and teachers at international schools in Peru share their insights into the joys and challenges of working in a country of ‘fantastic opportunities’ that isn’t on most applicants’ radar
Lima Peru

Thursday

20th Nov 2025

Suspensions fall but remain higher than before Covid
Permanent exclusions from school have also dropped and are now similar to pre-pandemic levels, DfE figures show
Suspensions and exclusions autumn 2024-25