School Gate: Are schools focussing too much on feelings?

School lessons designed to help children to learn social and emotional skills and improve classroom discipline have had little impact on pupil behaviour, a study suggests.

The programme called Seal (Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning) encourages pupils to discuss their feelings and manage their emotions. But a study of the group work phase of the project indicates that it is not having the desired effect on classroom or home behaviour.

Parents, teachers and pupils who took part in the study said there was no formal evidence the programme had any impact on “core” social skills like behaviour, empathy and self-awareness, when undertaken in groups.

All pupils will receive lessons in emotional skills and happiness by 2011 under plans brought in by Ed Balls, the Schools Secretary. Ofsted is about to start rating schools according to pupil well-being.

Initial research into the Seal programme last year had suggested that it boosted academic performance and discipline by helping children to better understand their emotions. But the latest research from Manchester University - commissioned by the Government - into 30 primary schools indicates that lessons in which children discuss things like conflict, relationships and setting goals do not contribute to improved behaviour.

The report said: “There was no evidence of impact for any of the core skills being targeted for each theme in any of the staff, pupil or parents ratings.”

Researchers asked 600 pupils aged six to 11, their parents and teachers about the effects of the emotion lessons. Although there was a general view that the programme had a positive impact there was no evidence of this when schemes were formally evaluated.

Only teachers in one of the four schemes in the indepth evaluation recorded any positive impact on pupils’ behaviour and social skills.

The report said it appeared that any small improvements in behaviour the programme had garnered, were not transferred to the home setting.

One boy, asked whether the group sessions had helped him outside school, told researchers: “No, I smash windows at home.”

Seal runs in 60 per cent of primary schools and was rolled out to secondaries in September last year when 20 per cent were expected to take it up.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Children Schools and Families said the research looked at one strand of the Seal programme.

“Seal is working well in many schools across the country, helping to tackle the causes of bad behaviour and bullying by helping all children to develop self-control and good relationships,” she said.

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