Behaviour: Government hubs plan is a start, but won't be sufficient

The NASUWT has always been clear that teachers cannot teach and pupils cannot learn without good order and discipline in our schools.

It is worrying that in recent years the number of members reporting to us that pupil behaviour is a problem in their school has risen year-on-year and – up until the coronavirus lockdown and partial school closures – we were continuing to receive daily calls and messages from members who have been exposed to completely unacceptable verbal and physical abuse in their schools.

In too many schools, teachers tell us that verbal and physical abuse is going unchallenged. Referrals for this and other unacceptable behaviour are not addressed in a robust and timely manner and there is a growing culture in schools of “blame the teacher” rather than holding pupils accountable for their behaviour.