Steer report: practical proposals for complex problems, says NUT

21 October 2005

Commenting on the Sir Alan Steer Practitioners Group report on pupil behaviour, Steve Sinnott, NUT General Secretary, said:

“This report is very welcome. It has its origins in the NUT’s Pupil Behaviour Charter released in September and submitted to the group in evidence. I am delighted that the group has taken up the idea of a behaviour charter.

“It has taken a practical approach to improving behaviour rather than throwing its collective hands in the air in despair. I particularly welcome the group and the Government’s recognition that parents accepting their responsibilities is crucial to good discipline in our schools.

“I am especially delighted that the Government accepts the group’s recognition of the need for teachers to have a statutory right to discipline pupils rather than leaving it to the vagaries of ancient and modern case law. This is a proposal for which the NUT pressed long and hard. It will aid teachers in tackling persistent low level disruption which is too often met with “you can’t do anything to me, miss”. This will help put a stop to that.

“It will also help combat false allegations against teachers who can end up in court for responding sensibly in difficult situations. But this must be coupled with clear national guidance on restraining pupils and on how allegations against teachers should be handled.

“In addition, the group accepts that pastoral care is integral to teachers’ work. It has rightly urged that teachers’ responsibilities for pastoral work should continue to attract additional salary.

“The Government had the courage to set up the Steer Group which has made many very welcome proposals. So far, the Government has responded positively to many aspects but there is still work to be done in the Ministerial Group.

“I hope that issues not taken up by the Government at this stage will be adopted when the Ministerial Group reports. These include national guidance on physical restraint, a charter on pupil behaviour and classroom teacher representation on independent appeals panels.”