Effective behaviour management: guidance summary

Learn how to develop a positive behaviour culture in your school, with a breakdown of the DfE's Behaviour in Schools guidance. Find out how to foster a whole-school approach through a behaviour curriculum and standards, and how to support pupils to meet those standards.

Last reviewed on 24 August 2023
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 10347
Contents
  1. 1. Create a positive behaviour culture
  2. 2. Teach pupils what ‘good’ behaviour looks like
  3. 3. Proactively support all pupils to meet the behaviour standards
  4. 4. Respond predictably, promptly and assertively to misbehaviour
  5. 5. How to support pupils following a sanction
  6. 6. Monitor and evaluate school behaviour

This article summarises the DfE’s Behaviour in Schools guidance, effective from 1 September 2022.

1. Create a positive behaviour culture

As you know, your key aim should be to create an environment and a culture that is calm, safe and supportive and free from disruption.

Your school’s behaviour culture starts with your behaviour policy. Check that your policy is clear on:

  • Acceptable and unacceptable behaviour
  • The values, attitudes and beliefs you want to promote
  • Social norms and routines

You're free to decide what the acceptable standard of behaviour looks like for your school. You must meet the national minimum expectation of behaviour, which is aligned with Ofsted's ‘good’ grade descriptor of assessing behaviour and attitudes.

This is explained on page 6 of the behaviour guidance, linked above.

Take a whole-school approach

The way