Some parents 'undermining' school staff 'by excusing poor behaviour', report says

The report, which was published by Estyn, the schools inspectorate for Wales, said engagement with parents was "key to sustaining positive behaviour".

From the 24 secondary and all-age schools Estyn visited during the last year, nearly all of them noted a "degree of difficulty" in engaging with some parents.

The Welsh government said it was "committed" to addressing "declining behaviour" in schools and colleges.

In the inspectorate's national survey, many staff described a few parents as "unsupportive" and sometimes "undermining staff by excusing poor behaviour".

The main issues identified by staff were low-level disruption, defiance and truancy, and poor behaviours outside of lessons included vaping, use of mobile phones and damage to school property.

In March, a Senedd committee rejected calls for a mobile phone ban in schools, instead recommending more support for individual schools to set their own restrictions.

When presented with concerns about their child's behaviour, a few parents "displayed aggressive behaviour" towards school leaders and staff, the report said.

One school leader said support from parents was "not as it was" and poor behaviour at home was "not being addressed".

Another told the survey that parents' "reluctance to address challenging behaviour supports defiant attitudes".

'National campaign'

Most school leaders who responded to Estyn's national survey said the "overall support" from the Welsh government and other agencies in dealing with challenging behaviour was "inadequate".

They said schools were often having to use a "limited budget" to provide their own behavioural support provisions.

Estyn has recommended "an update to national behaviour guidance" and has called on the Welsh government to launch a "national campaign on positive behaviour to support schools and pupils alike".

Chief inspector Owen Evans said: "Our report shows that schools that prioritise well-being, establish high expectations, and build trusting relationships with families are more likely to succeed in creating safe and supportive learning environments."

The Welsh Conservatives' shadow education secretary Natasha Asghar said the situation in Welsh schools was "deeply concerning with record levels of physical assaults on teachers".

The Welsh government said it was "committed to ensuring everything possible is done to address declining behaviour in schools and colleges".

"We welcome this important report from Estyn which both highlights the issues our secondary schools are facing and, importantly, the steps that can be taken to address them," a spokesperson added.

"We will be discussing these points further at our behaviour summit later this month."

-SKY NEWS