There have been a few items in the news recently about disruptive behaviour in schools.

Earlier this week, The Telegraph reported that schools are being forced to significantly reduce the number long-term suspensions handed out to troublemakers. They quoted an Ofsted report, ‘Day six of exclusion: the extent and quality of provision for pupils', as claiming that schools are keeping badly behaved children in the classroom because of new rules requiring them to educate pupils excluded for more than a week.

Elsewhere, the BBC reported that almost half of secondary schools in England have a dedicated police officer. According to Department of Children, Schools and Family statistics, 45 percent have accommodated police officers since the launch of the Safer School Partnership scheme in 2002.

Although serious violent incidents can be very damaging to those involved, thankfully they are still rare. We have learned from interacting with thousands of teachers every year, it is low-level, persistent disruptive behaviour that represents a more serious challenge to the education system, damaging standards of education and the wellbeing of teachers and pupils.

Schools need well thought out and implemented policies to combat disruptive behaviour, which include the whole school community and other professionals who work with children.

If you would like help or advice on dealing with disruptive behaviour in your school you can call our free, confidential Support Line on 08000 562 561 (England), 0800 564 2270 (Scotland) or 08000 855 088 (Wales).

You might also find these factsheets from our InfoCentre useful:

• Managing pupil behaviour - dealing with aggression
• Coping with disruptive pupils
• Tips for managing conflict with pupils
• Pupil behaviour and teacher wellbeing
• Behaviour, discipline and exclusion: the Education and Inspection Act 2006