Alternative approaches to behaviour management in schools: diverging from a focus on punishment

A significant number of children are excluded from school each year in England. Exclusion from school is often just another step within a cycle of challenging behaviour and punitive responses. Despite this ongoing cycle, most schools in England still use punitive approaches as a substantial part of their behaviour management system. In addition, disruptive behaviour remains a key stress factor for teachers.
The main aim of this study was to explore why many schools in England are reluctant to use alternative approaches to punitive responses when managing undesirable student behaviour. To investigate this question, the research considers the experiences and perceptions of senior school leaders about current behaviour management systems in schools; students’ perceptions of behaviour management in their school; and the perceived barriers to implementing alternative approaches to behaviour management in schools. Data were gathered through conducting interviews with senior school leaders in English schools and internationally; an online survey sent to senior school leaders in mainstream schools and Pupil Referral Units in England; and focus groups with students at a case study school.
The key findings of the study are that senior school leaders generally appear to have a positive attitude towards alternative approaches to behaviour management. However, there are a number of barriers that prevent these changes from being made, namely; time and resources, perceptions of others, and leaders being risk averse. These barriers contribute to why punitive approaches are still the predominant way of managing behaviour in English schools. The most important aspects of behaviour management for students were for the system to be seen as fair and consistent.
These research findings suggest that alternative approaches to punitive responses could be used more frequently in English schools. However, there is a need for support to enable schools to overcome the barriers that are currently preventing this.