A back-to-school call to parents to make sure their children get to class and behave there will today be issued by Ministers.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson will mark the start of the new school term by urging ‘mums, dads and carers’ to play their part in getting their sons and daughters ready to learn in the classroom.
She will unveil special help for 800 schools in the areas worst hit by pupils misbehaving.
The action comes as the Department for Education (DfE) realised new figures showing seven out of 30 classroom minutes are lost to kids ‘kicking off’ at school.
And new data for the 2023/24 academic year showed nearly four out of five teachers felt that pupils’ poor behaviour had a negative impact on their health and well-being.
Ms Phillipson said: ’I am calling on parents, schools and families to join us in playing their part to get children in class and ready to learn for the start of the new school term.
‘We have already made progress with five million more days in school this year and are backing parents and supporting schools through our Plan for Change.’
But she added that ‘when it comes to getting kids in and behaving – this includes mums, dads and carers too.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson (pictured) will mark the start of the new school term by urging ‘mums, dads and carers’ to play their part in getting their sons and daughters ready to learn in the classroom
The action comes as the Department for Education (DfE) realised new figures showing seven out of 30 classroom minutes are lost to kids ‘kicking off’ at school (file image)
Ms Phillipson (pictured) said: ’I am calling on parents, schools and families to join us in playing their part to get children in class and ready to learn for the start of the new school term.’ From this autumn, 800 schools are set to receive help from new ‘Attendance and Behaviour Hubs’
‘We know what works – strong leadership, consistent attendance and schools standing shoulder to shoulder with families.
‘That’s why we’re investing in proven expertise so that schools facing the biggest challenges can get the support they need.’
From this autumn, 800 schools – responsible for about 600,000 pupils – are set to receive help from new ‘Attendance and Behaviour Hubs’.
Officials said the help. eventually to be extended to 5,000 schools overall, was designed to share proven strategies from school leaders who had successfully turned attendance and behaviour around.
They also pointed out that the Government’s schools’ White Paper would set out further action to tackle bad behaviour in class.
However, the DfE also said that the Government was already turning the tide on poor attendance, with five million more days recorded in the classroom and 140,000 fewer pupils persistently absent last year.
Officials boasted that that signalled the biggest year-on-year improvement in attendance in a decade, equivalent to 1,000 classes of children learning full time for a year and estimated to protect over £2 billion in pupils’ future earnings.
But last night, the Tories accused Labour of failing on the issue of school discipline.
Laura Trott, the Shadow Education Secretary, said: ‘Behaviour and attendance are two of the biggest challenges facing schools and it’s about time the Government acted. Labour had the chance to take action in their Schools Bill, but they failed.’
Pictured: Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson speak with children at Perry Hall Primary school in Orpington, during the first day of the new school year, on September 2, 2024 in London
Ms Trott added: ‘If Labour are serious about tackling bad behaviour, they must back teachers to enforce discipline not encouraging schools to sign up to “inclusion charters” like Sadiq Khan (pictured) in London.’
Laura Trott, the Shadow Education Secretary, said: ‘Behaviour and attendance are two of the biggest challenges facing schools and it’s about time the Government acted.
‘Labour had the chance to take action in their Schools Bill, but they failed.
‘There isn’t a single mention of discipline in the entire Bill.’
Ms Trott added: ‘They have chosen to dismantle the very system that has driven up standards for decades.
‘Labour voted against our proposals to ensure violent incidents are reported to the police.
‘They refuse to back a ban on mobile phones in classrooms despite clear evidence it would improve behaviour.
‘These are practical steps they could enact right now, but they won’t.
‘If Labour are serious about tackling bad behaviour, they must back teachers to enforce discipline not encouraging schools to sign up to “inclusion charters” like Sadiq Khan in London.
‘There must be clear consequences for poor behaviour not just to protect the pupils trying to learn, but to recognise when mainstream education isn’t the right setting for those causing disruption.’
