Majority of Britons believe young people's behaviour has worsened over the past decade

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YOUNG people’s behaviour in classrooms is spiralling out of control with both schools and parents failing to keep control of unruly pupils. A new poll conducted by More in Common has exposed significant public concern over young people’s behaviour, the role of parents and schools in addressing it, and whether teachers are receiving sufficient training to meet growing demands. The research has found that the majority of Britons (63%) believe behaviour in young people has got worse over the past decade, and nearly half (47%) say schools aren’t doing enough to promote good behaviour.

But at the same time, the public is split on whether schools are being asked to take on too much responsibility, with 37% believing schools are overburdened while 46% disagree. The research, commissioned by Steplab - a professional development platform designed to support teachers - reveals divisions over who should take responsibility for young people’s behaviour. While the vast majority believe parents and families should lead the way, younger people are far less convinced and say the onus should be on teachers.

But with 63% of respondents believe teachers don’t get enough training to manage their growing responsibilities, the findings raise urgent questions about whether schools are equipped to meet society’s expectations.

The research comes after teaching unions warned that one in 10 teachers have suffered physical violence and many are now considering quitting their jobs after being left suffering anxiety, depression and panic attacks.

A poll by school leaders’ union NAHT, which surveyed more than 1,600 of its members, revealed verbal abuse was the most common form of abuse suffered, with 85% having experienced it in the past year. This was followed by threatening behaviour 68%, online abuse 46% and discriminatory language 22%, including the use of racist, sexist or homophobic terms.

The survey also exposed widespread reports of trolling on social media and in parent groups on Facebook and WhatsApp -as well as appalling instances of hate campaigns and harassment and intimidation. Some school leaders said the abuse had made their lives a misery to the extent that they had considered quitting the profession they love.

Josh Goodrich, CEO of Steplab, said: “Our findings reflect the pressures faced by both schools and families in shaping young people’s behaviour. Schools play a crucial role, but the responsibility cannot fall on them alone. We need to ensure teachers are well-equipped and have the resources and training to handle behaviour alongside all the other increasing demands placed upon them in the classroom."

Conleth Burns, Associate Director of More in Common, said: “There is deep public concern over worsening youth behaviour over the last decade. Almost one in two Brits think that schools are not doing enough to promote good behaviour among young people. While the public overwhelmingly think that parents need to be responsible for young people’s behaviour, three in five think teachers aren’t well equipped to manage those increasing responsibilities. The public appetite is clear to support both parents and teachers to turn around the tide on worsening youth behaviour that the public have seen over the last decade”.

Paul Whiteman, NAHT’s general secretary, said: “The vast majority of parents are very supportive of schools and in most cases the relationship between school and home is really positive. However, in recent years we have heard of a worrying increase in the amount of abuse school leaders are experiencing.”

A Department for Education spokesman said: “Nobody should face violence or abuse in the workplace, including our incredible school staff who are vital to improving life chances for all children. Our new regional improvement teams will work with schools to spread the highest standards of behaviour across our classrooms, and we are committed to providing access to a specialist mental health professional in every school. But we know there is more to do and are looking closely at how we can go further to support teachers and drive high and rising school standards for all our children.”

Case Studies

At Teign School in Devon a new approach to improving pupil behaviour is making a big difference.

The school has introduced simple but effective strategies to improve behaviour including a ‘meet and greet’ at the classroom door, which is credited with helping students mentally prepare for lessons. Another is the ‘5-1 narrated countdown,’ which sets clear expectations and keeps behaviour consistent across classrooms. A big part of the school’s success comes from regular teacher training. Every Wednesday morning, staff take part in ‘Deliberate Practice’ sessions, where they rehearse different ways to handle classroom challenges. This means teachers feel more confident, and students benefit from a calm, structured environment. Assistant head Alex Goldman, said: “By practicing a range of scenarios and sharing experiences, we have been able to refine our approach to managing undesired behaviours in a least invasive and non- confrontational way, and build strong trusting relationships with learners. We’ve created a more supportive environment where students feel understood and guided, ultimately encouraging better behaviour and engagement across the school.”

Coombeshead Academy in Newton Abbott, Devon, is improving behaviour with clear routines and a military-style morning “lineup”. Deputy head Tom Graham said “Students need clear structure to help them through the school day. To support this, we introduced morning line-ups for all year groups. These gatherings allow students to start the day together in a formal and organised way. Every detail of the lineup was carefully planned, ensuring tutors knew how to check uniform, resolve missing equipment issues, and take the register efficiently.