UK Top 10 News

The UK's Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has launched a new initiative aimed at improving discipline and attendance in schools, directly appealing to parents to take a more active role in ensuring their children are 'ready to learn.' The announcement comes amidst new data revealing that a significant amount of classroom time—seven out of every 30 minutes—is lost to poor pupil behavior.
A recent survey also found that 78% of teachers reported that bad behavior negatively impacts their health and wellbeing.
The government's new 'Plan for Change' will target the 500 most troubled schools with help, including the establishment of 'behaviour hubs' where top-performing schools can share advice.
The initiative also seeks to address the crisis of severe truancy, with figures showing 148,000 children were 'severely absent' in the autumn term, missing more than 50% of sessions.
Phillipson stated, 'I am calling on parents, schools and families to join us in playing their part.' While acknowledging that attendance is improving, she stressed that more needs to be done.
The Education Secretary believes that strong leadership, consistent attendance, and collaboration between schools and families are key to turning the tide.
The government's investment in proven expertise is designed to provide struggling schools with the support they need to address these challenges, ensuring that more children are in class and able to benefit from their education, while also improving the working environment for teachers.