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In Bett’s Student Behaviour Report 2024, the ongoing challenge of classroom disruptions is laid bare. Across the UK, educators are increasingly finding it difficult to maintain effective learning environments, with more time being lost to behavioural issues. This growing concern has been highlighted not only in reports by Ofsted but also in the Department for Education’s National Behaviour Survey (NBS), which confirms that since the pandemic, student behaviour has seen a significant decline. Bett’s report, based on a YouGov survey, takes a deeper dive into the real-time impacts of these challenges, offering insight from both primary and secondary school teachers.
The report indicates that educators are grappling with higher levels of non-compliance, verbal abuse and overall classroom disruptions, echoing concerns raised by Ofsted. The pandemic’s lingering effects have exacerbated behavioural issues, resulting in a loss of valuable lesson time, which is severely hampering teachers’ ability to deliver quality education. The situation, as reported, has worsened further since 2023, with many educators feeling that the standards of behaviour continue to decline.
In response to this crisis, Bett commissioned the YouGov survey to not only track these troubling trends but also to identify potential solutions. The survey involved educators from across England, painting a comprehensive picture of the daily struggles faced in classrooms today. The findings are stark: many teachers report that they are losing large amounts of lesson time to manage misconduct, with limited resources or support systems in place to adequately address the problem. Moreover, teachers note that verbal abuse and non-compliance are now commonplace, significantly affecting the learning experience for all students.
While the report focuses on the struggles, it also serves as a call to action. The insights gathered provide a foundation for understanding what steps could be taken to alleviate the burden on educators. Many suggest that greater investment in behaviour management training and more support staff in schools could help mitigate the problem. Additionally, the report highlights the need for policy changes to ensure that schools are better equipped to handle the growing behavioural issues post-pandemic.
For those in education, the Bett Student Behaviour Report 2024 is a critical resource that sheds light on the pressing challenges and possible strategies to address student behaviour, providing hope for more effective classroom management in the future. Download the full report to explore these findings in detail and discover the suggested solutions from educators themselves.
