Press Release

NUT response to the Steer report

Monday, July 14 2008

 

Commenting on the latest instalment of Sir Alan Steer’s Behaviour Review, Christine Blower, Acting General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Europe’s largest teaching union, said, "The key message from the latest Steer review on pupil behaviour is that teachers’ professional judgements need to be upheld when serious threats are identified to school discipline.

 

"Positive parental engagement and teachers confident in the disciplinary judgements they make provide the best conditions for safe and happy schools.

"Rarely will teachers want to search pupils physically, but if they do there should be no threat of prosecution.

 

"Government needs to respond pragmatically to the needs of schools which face threats from gangs, knives and drug and alcohol abuse. Schools are safe places but our research shows that the minority of schools need exceptional back-up. Schools should not face enormous security bills just because they are sited in the toughest areas.

 

"Part of helping to reduce the number of schools with serious behaviour problems must be a targeted approach which involves no cost to the schools concerned and intelligent support not criticism from local authorities and OfSTED."