* “The longer a fight goes on, the more potential there is for someone to get seriously hurt, so separation has to be the priority. I’m not advocating pulling the girls apart by their hair and, in an ideal world, the mere presence of a teacher or adult shouting at them to break it up should be enough. Failing that, a hands-on-shoulders approach is appropriate.” Mr Holland
* “Talk all the time... ‘You must stop fighting.’ ‘I am going to separate you.’ ‘If one stray punch hits me it will be time for the police.’ ‘You are making a prat of yourself in front of everyone.’ Appeal to their vanity: ‘Do you want everyone to see you with your hair like that?’
“Sometimes pupils get themselves into a fight and can’t see a way out, so a teacher intervening is welcomed as a good excuse to end it. ‘Yeah, well, I would have killed her if Miss hadn’t come along.’ ” Pixel
* “Sometimes it works to force the participants together. This means they can’t move their arms to be able to continue fighting...and it is then a natural reaction for them to want to pull away from each other.” Doug Specht
If you want to contribute to next week’s behaviour forum, go to www.tes.co.ukbehaviour
