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From The Times

March 27, 2008

Schools to be forced to keep quota of problem pupils

Nicola Woolcock

Successful schools will be forced to take a share of disruptive pupils to prevent them from monopolising the best-behaved children, the Government announced yesterday.

Ed Balls, the Children’s Secretary, said that schools which excluded pupils would have to accept the same number that had been expelled by another school. This “one out, one in” policy would prevent oversubscribed schools from dumping badly behaved children on to their less successful neighbours.

Speaking at the NASUWT teaching union’s annual conference, Mr Balls said that he accepted the recommendations of a behaviour review published yesterday, which said: “A school that permanently excludes a child should expect to receive a permanently excluded child on the principle of one out, one in.”

Sir Alan Steer, the head teacher of a specialist school and author of the report, said: “I didn’t feel we should have a situation where a school has a perverse incentive to exclude, knowing it would not have to accept a child with difficulties. We didn’t want a situation where schools were exporting without accepting their responsibility to import where they could.”

Sir Alan said that the rules should also apply to oversubscribed and faith schools, otherwise they could use exclusion as a way of creating a space for a child on a waiting list. He said that head teachers had a social responsibility to neighbouring schools to take on challenging pupils.

New legislation requiring all secondary schools to form behaviour partnerships with neighbouring schools would be passed, Mr Balls said. More than 90 per cent of schools already belonged to one, he added.

He had taken into consideration an earlier report by Sir Alan, which recommended that clusters of secondary schools pool their resources and expertise to deal with problem pupils.

In his latest report, Sir Alan questioned whether some schools were paying lip service to the partnerships. It said: “Informal soundings make me sceptical that all these schools are actually engaged in meaningful partnership working . . . Credible evidence is lacking on the impact partnerships are making where they do exist.”

Mr Balls said that there would be an overhaul of “alternative provision” for children excluded from mainstream education, with a White Paper setting out his department’s plans.

The overall quality of pupil referral units was not good enough, the minister said, adding that he wanted more voluntary and private sector provision. This will include “studio schools”, already successful in the United States, which offer vocational training for expelled pupils.

Mr Balls said: “We will launch pilots to develop new and more effective forms of alternative provision, including high-quality vocational training with a clear pathway to qualifications and a job.” He added that he wanted to “shine a light” on the sector; data on the performance of excluded pupils, educated in alternative settings, would be published for the first time.

Mr Balls said that standards of behaviour continued to concern parents, teachers and children. He also announced a “root and branch” review of the school governing body system.

Sir Alan said that the responsibilities of parents - as well as their rights – should be set out in the Children’s Plan, published last year by Mr Balls’s department.

A pilot scheme that provided parent support advisers in schools was successful, he said, and should be extended across most, if not all, schools. However, the £100 million funding provided for the programme over the next three years was insufficient, he added.

Eight years ago I was working in a school in Liverpool and we were told by the SENCO, just before the summer break, that we had been asked to accept a "problem" year 7 child but that we would not be accepting him. September came, as did the young man - he was OK for the first couple of weeks, a couple of minor scrapes, nothing major - then he lost it during a science lesson, climbed onto a bench and kicked a pregnant teacher in the stomach.
The baby was OK - but the teacher never taught again. The local community excluded the whole family - if they hadn't moved I believe bad things would have happened. My point, our prisons are full to bursting with people who break rules, all of whom have been through the education system in one form or another - OK everyone should be given opportunities to make a fresh start - BUT - should that child have been allowed into a neighboring school? Should pupils and teachers be put at serious risk just to satisfy the Government's inclusion policy?

Chris Abbott, Wigan, England

I am a special education teacher here in the US. We have the same problems in our school system. However, we have Alternative Schools but not enough. Of course, many of these institutions do nothing more than house these disruptitive children because their parent(s) are not taking responsibility for their mental condition. As a matter of fact, majority of my emotionally distrubed students are either in prison or dead. These children are turning out to be some of our well known criminals and many of them are very bright. I'm not saying we should give-up on them, but these kids lack social skills and usually unaware of their behaviors. Everybody can't be included in every public sector of society. In the U.S., when a student is put out of their residing schools that school loses money. Therefore, the principals are reluctant to putting these students out. Plus, these students often commit crimes against their innocent peers. I am ready to give-up teaching!!!

Jacqueline , St. Louis , MO

I think its ridiculous that schools will be afraid of expelling rude, difficult and violent children in the fear of receiving an even worse replacement. The majority of students in schools are well behaved and want to learn, why should a few disruptive students have a negative impact on those around them? Teachers should not have to suffer abuse in their work and parents should be held accountable for the actions of their children.

Please don't misunderstand, i think all schools should try and find some way of accomodating all children, whatever their needs. Some schools will turf out more difficult children without trying other strategies as they do not want their league tables dented. However, some students are so disruptive they need to be removed from the classroom for everyone's well being.

When will the government realise that the incredible demands on teachers are responsible for many excellent practictioners leaving the profession?
Mrs A, Cambridge, UK

zoe andrews, cambridge,

This is totally madness. It s not fair on those pupils who want to learn. A distruptive student causes added stress for the teachers as well. I would hate it if my sons had there learning affected and so would they. Im sorry to have to say this but they should be sent to an army camp to be made to respect others.

mrs j Bastick, Bishopsstortford, England

Private sector schools have better discipline because the threat of expulsion is true punishment. If it meant just going to another private school then it wouldn't work so well.

Ruth Johnston, Peterborough, UK

U R absolutely right!!!!!!!. student should know the consequence of their act. And it is the most stupid measure.

Sanjiva, B-Rose, Mauritius

Why should pupils and staff members be exposed to additional danger presented by pupils with behavioural problems? I work at a very good school with excellent pupil behaviour, but one pupil has brought a knife to school with a view to using it on other pupils or staff. Why should this one pupils rights be more important than the health and safety of the pupils and staff?? Surely the senior management team have a duty of care towards all people in their care: staff and pupils alike?! Why should another school be expected to find a place for this dangerous pupil? Perhaps we should press for prosecution?!

Dave, Worcester, WORCS

Another step in the quest for mediocrity by the UK Government. Whatever happened to the good old days when hooligans and 'bad pupils' could be punished. Bring back the cane and the stocks for petty adolescent crime and while we're at it, let's also have a referendum on capital punsihment and reintroduce the respectful society of the old days.

I'm soooo glad I left the UK and came to live in Africa.

steve, white river, south africa

Yes, very poor humour used by John,Knutsford, UK ! Congratulations to Ed and Co to look at the future more positively for our young. A school just cannot dump a problem child on anyone and forget about them forever. Personally speaking, a school should never exclude any child once they have accepted to enroll them, no matter how badly behaved the child might be. Instead, a school should work and create specialist classes for them within their own school and work on them relentlessly until they achieve success.Passing on the buck, does not solve the child's problem, nor that of the child's own future or that of our caring society. Every child is a future adult and if you abandon them early, the child and our society will have more problems in the future. Have faith in the child and have faith in your schools to assist them in every way possible ! This is the whole point of the existence of a school,the whole point of being parents or any responsible adult !

DKP, London, UK

This proposal has no logical bearing on any of the issues at hand regarding disruptive pupils or the educational system.

What is the intended issue that is even trying to be resolved here?... a stated problem that currently "a school has a perverse incentive to exclude"?

The incentive behind exclusion is that by doing so the school will receive benefit in the form of an improved education for the majority of students and a lesser burden on the teachers & staff. How is this perverse????

To suggest that replacing one disruptive pupil with another serves any benefit whatsoever to anybody is surely evidence enough that our country's educational system is not functioning correctly - even our Children's secretary is incapable of the most basic of logic.

The only time before I've encountered the principal of "one out, one in" is on the door of a nightclub.

This will help no one! Fact!

James, Leeds, UK

Bringing rabble rousers into a small group works for Parliament so why shouldn't it work for schools?

jj, Cambs, UK

Private sector schools have better discipline because the threat of expulsion is true punishment. If it meant just going to another private school then it wouldn't work so well.

Ruth Johnston, Peterborough, UK

sorry for the poor humour, but another case of pure and utter balls from the government.

John, Knutsford, UK

this is in line with the rank stupidity prevelant in this Govt - why not threaten good schools by introducing troublemakers.. great idea.. the convoy moves at the speed of the slowest ship..so why not inflict all convoys with a particularly slow ship.

the bumblings of thios govt will decimate the pool of educated employees that companies must recruit from - its a reflection of the New Labours liberal namby pamby nanny culture they've tinkered and faffed for 10years now and only suceede in speeding up the decay and destruction - i can hear GB waffling on abt the massive increases in Govt spending in education, but the fool cant or wont see that simply throwing wads of cash at a prob wont solve it.

This Govt simply doesnt recognise that a highly educated competitive, population will earn higher incomes and pay greater taxes,,,contrubuting to a better welfare society...labour would prefer dumb and poor electorate so they can pull the wool over their eyes more successfully.

zugerman, zurich, switzerland

A badly behaved child is very disruptive and spoils things for the other students. Why must everyone suffer because of the "rights" of the tiny minority. Perhaps the local authority could provide alternative facilities for those children who make it impossible for others to learn.

S. L., Taunton, Somerset

An obscenely inept and incompetent decision that
almost defies comment.

Truly, truly bizarre.

Henry, London,

Let's have enforcement of what we've got. - with expelled pupils forced to wallk 10 miles to a school that will take them. Let's have their parents brought on board, selling their cars and televisions to pay fines. If the worst comes to the worst, then hand out sticks to other pupils.

Andy Dyer, London, UK,

My 3 children are all well educated and are at university but it has nothing to do with our educational system. Part time private education was used. The state school classes were so disruptive that my childred made notes and swatted up the lesson after school. It was the only way they could gain an education.
The government is very aware that uneducated people make better socialists.

Mr G, Leeds , UK

Many children do not get their choice of school and so are sent to an alternative one . Perhaps the more ingenious of them could manage to get expelled with the strong possibility of being assigned to the school of their choice ? !!

Mid J., China,

Those in Education need to find out why the children are so angry they are disrupting the class. Answer: 1. Children are being abused and they are mad as hell and trying to express that anger. 2. Children are so spoiled at home they actually think that in a class they should still be the center of attention. Expelled from public school use to mean parents had to PAY for a child to attend a private school; parents had a vested interest in seeing that their child behaved in school. The problem has little to do with the school and everything to do with the home life of the child. Don't drop standards for Education increase standards for parents being responsible for their child's behavior. If need be, educate the parents on being parents. Children who do not misbehave in school do so because they know if they get out of line at school their parents will be waiting for them when they get home.

vic, Kennesaw, GA USA

Every barrel must have a rotten apple. In the name of equity and social justice. Except the apple isn't rotten but rather - challenging or at-risk or vulnerable or ....

s jones, london, uk

This is clearly daft. Why expel a troublesome pupil one knows in exchange for an unknown one? At best it is a game of musical chairs but I suspect it is a rather cynical attempt to stop schools expelling pupils in the first place and so make the picture look, artificially, brighter than it really is.

Jan Bors, London , UK

Soon no-one will be prepared to teach, what will happen then?

Patricia, Ipswich, England

God save us from any further attempts by this government at improving our education system. Those who do not wish to learn will not do so, imposing this idea will only undermine further the already poor quality of education for those who do wish to learn.
Perhaps the way forward is to reduce the amount of 'rights' children have, thus removing control from the children and giving it back to the teachers, police and generally adults in society.

Leslie Corrin, Southport, England.

I am a secondary school teacher. I do not think there is another country out there with a government more incompetent than ours. Please, let us get rid of them... Even if one tries, it is impossible to make things worse.
What is wrong with special schools?
How come we still have politicians here who believe in the fantasy of inclussion? Did they not have enough time to realise that the inclussive system does not work? Why to punish more and more generations of youngsters by forcing them to have their learning time wasted by those with no intention to learn anything?
Some answers from the softy approach coalition? Or from the PC brigade? Come on, illuminate me.

Fran, luton, beds

I though the child was the difficulty which was why s/he was expelled.

What about the needs of the many? Do other children not have the right to an education?

Mike Carter, Bristol,

I know what... lets ruin the education of those children who do want to learn by bending over backwards to include those who don't. Great idea!

Andrew Brown, derby, UK

Yet another perverse piece of logic from the Government. What is the point of excluding a disruptive child if another one is going to take his/her place? Most headteachers will simply conclude that it's best to retain "the devil they know" rather than go through all the hassle and red tape involved in the exclusion process. Hang on though - perhaps this is the whole idea - a cunning plan to keep down the numbers of those excluded so that we can then be shown "evidence" of improving behaviour !

Jim Scott, Prestwick, Scotland

The first two paragraphs are conradictory. Say School A has 50 disruptive pupils (10 in each Year), School B has 5. Both schools permanently exclude one pupil, School A takes School B's pupil, School B takes School A's. School A still has 50 and School B 5 problem pupils. How is that ensuring that "schools take their fair share of disruptive pupils"?

Ed Balls - pffft!

Neil, Liverpool,

Ok correct me if i read this wrong, but how would receiving ANOTHER disruptive child help the school which had just got rid of one??

David, Cardiff, Wales

Working in a school as an assistant helping children with learning difficulties is easy, working with children with behavioural problems requires a hard hat and body armour. (ok slight overstatement)

But oh, how I wish the do gooder politicians could see and suffer the same as we mortals.

K, BRADFORD,

"A clear pathway to qualifications and a job"

This is a very dangerous plan. In my industry, rather unexpectedly, we have lost about 60,000 jobs in about five years. It has caught many unawares - including almost all our experienced managers and our trade association - and has gone little reported.

It is very difficult indeed to identify actual jobs numbers in specific industries - look at the mess the government has made of medical careers, and they are the monopoly employer and monopoly trainer of doctors.

What the schools should be doing is equipping pupils with the ability to be flexible and employable. To teach specific qualifications at an early age is risking disappointment and disaffection in youngsters.

Gerald Dyson, Leeds,

Maybe we should take problem kids OUT of the normal system and let the others get on in peace to learn and hopefully enjoy their time at school and at the same time give teachers a break. A less stressful teacher is a more patient, affective teacher.

Those that need special help should get the tough love that might turn their lives around and give them a chance to
make something of their lives. A specialist should be able
to understand their problems and help them.

Why can't this govn find these good solutions? Because they want to bring us all down to the lowest levels. I just wish we didn't have to wait 2 years for a general election.

Tony, London, UK

And what is to prevent these children from disrupting my grandchildren's education?

John Punshon, Milton Keynes, England

Great. Does this apply to voluntary-aided Church Schools? At present they can pursue permanent exclusion [and constructive exclusion too] safe in the knowledge that the local comprehensive school will have to take these pupils, but with so reciprocal responsibilities

Richard, Bexhill, UK

Bring back reform school!

Arthur, Newcastle,

Why should they be referred to another school at all?
If they behaved terribly, then they will, and should get expelled as a punishment.

No one should take education for granted. If they don't behave properly, then they should be warned that there always exist a possibility that they will no longer be provided with schooling.

If the asbo students know they will have some other schools taking them, why on earth would they want to correct their wrongs?

This government is desperate to make its mark somewhere before its imminent downfall in the next election. Pathetic.

Chris, Cambridge, UK

Just as you thought that the NUT had shown the lowest level of ideas in educational history, along comes Mr Balls to show that he is determined to maintain his record as greatest producer of nutcase ideas.

At this rate this government will destroy all remnants of standards in the entire educational 'system' in this country. What will happen is that those with most money will continue to educate their children abraod in the best private schools they can find, whilst those without that level of income will educate their children at home in ever greater numbers. So much for Blair's mantra of 1997. Basket case Britain strikes again!

David , Wolverhampton, Greater Europe

A courageous initiative which I hope helps solve the serious problems we have in state education. Of course there is a potential downside: teachers working in the better schools might experience a sudden and severe rise in their levels of stress. They say it takes just one hooligan to ruin a lesson for the whole class.

Des, Edinburgh,

Bring back the cane !!!

Ian Payne, WALSALL,

Government policies encourage the breeding of problem children and the dumbing down of state education to the point of irrelevence. The result - the vast majority of children in England have no chance of a worthwhile education and teachers are leaving their profession in droves. So much for "Education, education, education".

Jeff, Lutry,

â€œall secondary schools should work in partnerships to manage poor behaviour so that clusters of schools in a local area could pool their resources and expertise to deal with problem pupils, and by intervening early could prevent young people going off the rails.â€

Like by sending all problem children to a school where specialists are available to deal with them?

Dominic, Manchester, UK

Why is this a growing problem across the country ? Because this government have caused a catastrophic breakdown in the fabric of society.
The solution from the Children's Secretary is to punish the schools.
Totally predictable Balls.

RM, London, England

The only place for excluded, problem, pupils is in special schools with a staff that is of a domineering frame of mind and with psychiatric help readily available.
It is no use being "Mr nice guy" with these young people. In mainstream schools they hold back whole classes with disruptive behaviour.

The roots of the problem is an idealistic view of problem pupils and a reluctance oft the bean counters in Whitehall to spend money on special schools.

Davidka. East Yorkshire

David Toulman, WALKINGTON, UK

Won't this just end up being 'better the devil you know'?

And on another note, does the government think that children are excluded for fun? They are excluded because they are disruptive to the other 30-odd children in the class.
Where are their rights for behaving as they should?

chris, manchester, UK

Most entertaining. We'll see standards drop again. Oh no, we won't will we, the government will just dumb down again and everybody will still be brilliant!....not.

judy, Liverpool, England

Yippee! Another superb piece of U.K government logic at it's finest. Well done Labour, you make my emigration decision easier by the day!

Neil Hughes, Birmingham, U.K