Growing number of primary school children 'too violent and disruptive to be in school'
Richard Garner
Richard Garner has been Education Editor of The Independent for 12 years and writing about the subject for 34 years. Before becoming a journalist, he worked as a disc jockey in London pubs and clubs and for a hospital radio station. His main hobbies are cricket (watching these days) and theatre. On his days off, he is most likelt to be found at Lord’s or the King’s Head Theatre Club.
Wednesday 27 June 2012
Related articles
A growing number of primary school children are too violent and disruptive to be in school, the Government’s behaviour tsar said today.
Charlie Taylor, the former headteacher who advises ministers on discipline, said; “There is a group of children showing very extreme behaviour, very difficult, challenging, violent behaviour - often quite young children. There is an increase in those kind of children.”
They would often resorting to kicking or biting fellow pupils in the classroom, MPs on the Commons select committee for education were told..
He said a school could be “a good school” in terms of the discipline it promoted but still find itself unable to deal with such children
Mr Taylor’s comments follow claims from headteachers’ leaders that children often arrive at primary school — lacking in personal skills and ill-equipped to communicate with their fellow pupils.
They have put the blame on parents who fail to communicate with them - and allow them to remain in front of computer screens or TVs for the most part of the day.
Mr Taylor, who is to become head of the Teaching Agency - which oversees teacher recruitment and training in September, called for better training in how to tackle disciplinary problems.
Too often it consisted of an hour’s lecture at the beginning of the course which was never returned to.
“When I did teacher training at the beginning of the 80’s, they (children who misbehaved) were portrayed as psuedo revolutionaries fighting against the capitalist state and (as such) we should encourage them,” he said.
Ministers were still considering a recommendation made in a report he had published earlier in the year suggesting that parents should be docked benefit payments if they failed to pay fines levied upon them as a result of their children truanting.
Asked whether that would not just make it harder for parents who were already struggling financially, he replied that the main challenge was to get the children into school - and any deterrent that helped towards that end was worth considering.
Later Schools Minister Nick Gibb, quizzed om the Government’s plans to bring back old-style O-levels, said some children could be sitting the exam at 19- rather than 16.
The Government wanted as many children as possible to enter for the new exam - but recognised some would not be ready to take it at 16 - as with GCSE’s.
“It may be that some children when they’re less able will take the one year or two years or three years later.”
His comments appear to underline the Government is moving away from its intention of bringing back a “son of CSE” exam alongside old-style O-levels for the less bright pupils.
-
In pictures: Saturn images from Cassini probe as it prepares to turn lens towards Earth
-
Serena Williams apologises after comment that rape victim 'shouldn't have put herself in that position'
-
FBI finds possible human remains at former home of late gangster James Burke - the man who inspired Goodfellas
-
'Theres something quite unpleasant going on': Nigel Farage confronted for second time on visit to Scotland
-
World news in pictures
- 1 Bankers could face jail after report urges the Government to introduce new criminal offence for reckless management
- 2 Breaking the Silence: In the reality of occupation, there are no Palestinian civilians – only potential terrorists
- 3 Richard Nieuwenhuizen death: Six teenagers and 50-year-old father convicted of manslaughter in shocking case of referee killed over a game of football
- 4 Exclusive: Newcastle's star talent-spotter on brink as Joe Kinnear sparks walkout
- 5 Vast methane 'plumes' seen in Arctic ocean as sea ice retreats
How will you make today delicious?
Tell us how you plan to make today delicious and you could win a £50 M&S gift card.
Win a Nook® Simple Touch eReader
Find out how Nook® is supporting the Evening Standard's Get Reading campaign - and your chance to win one.
Free reading festival for families
Follow The Standard's campaign to get London's children reading - and experience this unique event at Trafalgar Square on 13 July.
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
iJobs Education
Are you an Primary NQT looking for your first role in Essex?
£21000 - £22000 per annum: Randstad Education Chelmsford: NQTs required now fo...
Primary teaching vacancies - Starting in September
£21000 - £32000 per annum: Randstad Education Chelmsford: September start - Pr...
Teaching jobs in Thurrock
£21000 - £32000 per annum: Randstad Education Chelmsford: Are you a primary Sc...
Primary teaching vacancies - Starting in September
£21000 - £32000 per annum: Randstad Education Chelmsford: September start - Pr...
Day In a Page
Babies behind bars
Sonic youth: The high-pitched sound alarm
The art of living in small spaces
'Teaching bright children isn't rocket science'
Can technology lure us back to the high street?







Comments