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Press Release
NASUWT comments on secretary of state's 'behaviour challenge'
30 September 2009
Commenting on the announcement on tackling pupil behaviour by Ed Balls, secretary of state for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton today (Wednesday), Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, the largest teachers' union, said:
"The NASUWT welcomes the Behaviour Challenge which has been announced by the secretary of state today.
"Good behaviour is essential to ensuring that all pupils learn and achieve. Teachers cannot teach and pupils cannot learn in an environment where there is poor behaviour and ineffective school discipline.
"The NASUWT welcomes the secretary of state's recognition that parents need to take seriously their responsibilities as well as their rights. Too many know their rights but not their responsibilities.
"Parents' responsibility for their children's behaviour does not stop at the school gates.
"Unfortunately, there are some who think it does. Where all other means of engaging parents have failed then sanctions must be available.
"The educational progress of the majority cannot be compromised by an abdication of responsibility by a minority.
"The Behaviour Challenge outlined today builds on the work undertaken by the DCSF with the NASUWT to empower schools to enforce discipline. This should make a further significant contribution to improving school discipline and ensuring zero tolerance of poor behaviour.
"It is clear that some schools need additional support in order to tackle long standing problems of anti-social behaviour by pupils.
"It is helpful that the secretary of state is giving greater power to local authorities to intervene early and provide support for schools in improving pupil behaviour.
"However, it is vital that no school should be prevented from exercising fully its statutory disciplinary powers, including the power to exclude pupils for serious offences. Pupils and staff need to know that consequences will follow where incidents of violent and abusive behaviour arise.
"It is also essential that classroom teachers are properly supported as a consequence of the measures announced today."
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