Ben Newmark
@bennewmark.bsky.social
Teacher, parent, school governor. Occasional blogger.
"A million different people from one day to the next, I can change."
https://bennewmark.wordpress.com/
"A million different people from one day to the next, I can change."
https://bennewmark.wordpress.com/
Reposted by Ben Newmark
10. Charts like this can be *incredibly* misleading and unhelpful. To non teachers "persistent disruptive behaviour" often means things like tapping a pen a couple of times. The truth is really wide but an accurate summary is probably "refusing to do what any adult asks them to do."
January 29, 2026 at 4:22 PM
10. Charts like this can be *incredibly* misleading and unhelpful. To non teachers "persistent disruptive behaviour" often means things like tapping a pen a couple of times. The truth is really wide but an accurate summary is probably "refusing to do what any adult asks them to do."
Which to an extent they are. But that part of the deal does require them to do as the adults ask them!
January 29, 2026 at 9:22 PM
Which to an extent they are. But that part of the deal does require them to do as the adults ask them!
Reposted by Ben Newmark
14. Argh one more - we should also be mindful that if schools become more disrupted, less calm, more uncertain they will be environments which more and more children and adults find unpleasant - we could get into a cycle of worse attendance and behaviour as a result.
January 29, 2026 at 4:36 PM
14. Argh one more - we should also be mindful that if schools become more disrupted, less calm, more uncertain they will be environments which more and more children and adults find unpleasant - we could get into a cycle of worse attendance and behaviour as a result.
Yes I think you're right. I did sort of say this but you've said it clearer and better.
January 29, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Yes I think you're right. I did sort of say this but you've said it clearer and better.
This is really telling about how confused it is. People from all over the spectrum of belief are annoyed precisely because it's all so unclear.
January 29, 2026 at 6:37 PM
This is really telling about how confused it is. People from all over the spectrum of belief are annoyed precisely because it's all so unclear.
Yeah this is quite insulting to schools right?
January 29, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Yeah this is quite insulting to schools right?
Reposted by Ben Newmark
7. This is important. @teachertapp.bsky.social and other research shows a general consensus behaviour is worse than pre-pandemic.
Suspensions are going up because behaviour is getting worse. Very significant that biggest rise is in primary.
Limiting suspensions means tolerating worse behaviour.
Suspensions are going up because behaviour is getting worse. Very significant that biggest rise is in primary.
Limiting suspensions means tolerating worse behaviour.
January 29, 2026 at 4:13 PM
7. This is important. @teachertapp.bsky.social and other research shows a general consensus behaviour is worse than pre-pandemic.
Suspensions are going up because behaviour is getting worse. Very significant that biggest rise is in primary.
Limiting suspensions means tolerating worse behaviour.
Suspensions are going up because behaviour is getting worse. Very significant that biggest rise is in primary.
Limiting suspensions means tolerating worse behaviour.
Generally as soon as discussion around this begins people get very uncomfortable and want to stop. People (and I get why) find learning about how awfully children can behave (as we all can) very upsetting.
January 29, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Generally as soon as discussion around this begins people get very uncomfortable and want to stop. People (and I get why) find learning about how awfully children can behave (as we all can) very upsetting.
Yes - it's a failure to uphold the old idea that school is a partnership between families and schools.
January 29, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Yes - it's a failure to uphold the old idea that school is a partnership between families and schools.
14. Argh one more - we should also be mindful that if schools become more disrupted, less calm, more uncertain they will be environments which more and more children and adults find unpleasant - we could get into a cycle of worse attendance and behaviour as a result.
January 29, 2026 at 4:36 PM
14. Argh one more - we should also be mindful that if schools become more disrupted, less calm, more uncertain they will be environments which more and more children and adults find unpleasant - we could get into a cycle of worse attendance and behaviour as a result.
LAURA BE QUIET THEY CAN HEAR YOU DON'T GIVE THEM IDEAS.
January 29, 2026 at 4:32 PM
LAURA BE QUIET THEY CAN HEAR YOU DON'T GIVE THEM IDEAS.
13. Fin.
Apart from to say the direction of thought feels worrying. Those in schools know when you relax things in response to things getting worse, problems escalate. This at sector level feels very concerning.
Apart from to say the direction of thought feels worrying. Those in schools know when you relax things in response to things getting worse, problems escalate. This at sector level feels very concerning.
January 29, 2026 at 4:31 PM
13. Fin.
Apart from to say the direction of thought feels worrying. Those in schools know when you relax things in response to things getting worse, problems escalate. This at sector level feels very concerning.
Apart from to say the direction of thought feels worrying. Those in schools know when you relax things in response to things getting worse, problems escalate. This at sector level feels very concerning.
12. "Hard cases make bad law."
My point here is that this is obviously unacceptable and should be stopped but this isn't representative of common practice and implying it is makes sensible conversation difficult.
My point here is that this is obviously unacceptable and should be stopped but this isn't representative of common practice and implying it is makes sensible conversation difficult.
January 29, 2026 at 4:28 PM
12. "Hard cases make bad law."
My point here is that this is obviously unacceptable and should be stopped but this isn't representative of common practice and implying it is makes sensible conversation difficult.
My point here is that this is obviously unacceptable and should be stopped but this isn't representative of common practice and implying it is makes sensible conversation difficult.
11. I actually again have some sympathy with this view but we have to be clear what the trade-offs are for schools. If the cost of kids not being on the streets is more disrupted and perhaps less safe schools then we need to be honest about it and not imply it isn't a zero sum.
January 29, 2026 at 4:24 PM
11. I actually again have some sympathy with this view but we have to be clear what the trade-offs are for schools. If the cost of kids not being on the streets is more disrupted and perhaps less safe schools then we need to be honest about it and not imply it isn't a zero sum.
10. Charts like this can be *incredibly* misleading and unhelpful. To non teachers "persistent disruptive behaviour" often means things like tapping a pen a couple of times. The truth is really wide but an accurate summary is probably "refusing to do what any adult asks them to do."
January 29, 2026 at 4:22 PM
10. Charts like this can be *incredibly* misleading and unhelpful. To non teachers "persistent disruptive behaviour" often means things like tapping a pen a couple of times. The truth is really wide but an accurate summary is probably "refusing to do what any adult asks them to do."
9. BP making same error here - would be more accurate to say "potential lost learning." Also seems unfair to say that because children are now more online the balance of harm about suspension has changed to slant more against without talking about the consequences of this for schools.
January 29, 2026 at 4:19 PM
9. BP making same error here - would be more accurate to say "potential lost learning." Also seems unfair to say that because children are now more online the balance of harm about suspension has changed to slant more against without talking about the consequences of this for schools.
8. TBF I don't necessarily think this is def the wrong thing to do but if we are to lower standards by tolerating worse behaviour in schools we need to be very upfront about why and the trade-offs of this.
January 29, 2026 at 4:15 PM
8. TBF I don't necessarily think this is def the wrong thing to do but if we are to lower standards by tolerating worse behaviour in schools we need to be very upfront about why and the trade-offs of this.
7. This is important. @teachertapp.bsky.social and other research shows a general consensus behaviour is worse than pre-pandemic.
Suspensions are going up because behaviour is getting worse. Very significant that biggest rise is in primary.
Limiting suspensions means tolerating worse behaviour.
Suspensions are going up because behaviour is getting worse. Very significant that biggest rise is in primary.
Limiting suspensions means tolerating worse behaviour.
January 29, 2026 at 4:13 PM
7. This is important. @teachertapp.bsky.social and other research shows a general consensus behaviour is worse than pre-pandemic.
Suspensions are going up because behaviour is getting worse. Very significant that biggest rise is in primary.
Limiting suspensions means tolerating worse behaviour.
Suspensions are going up because behaviour is getting worse. Very significant that biggest rise is in primary.
Limiting suspensions means tolerating worse behaviour.
Reposted by Ben Newmark
So many questions!
Who is staffing it?
Who is quality assuring that provision?
Who is paying for it?
Where will it physically take place in our cramped and crumbling schools?
No sch takes the decision lightly. Always a last resort.
Being asked to do more with less.
Again
Who is staffing it?
Who is quality assuring that provision?
Who is paying for it?
Where will it physically take place in our cramped and crumbling schools?
No sch takes the decision lightly. Always a last resort.
Being asked to do more with less.
Again
January 29, 2026 at 4:06 PM
So many questions!
Who is staffing it?
Who is quality assuring that provision?
Who is paying for it?
Where will it physically take place in our cramped and crumbling schools?
No sch takes the decision lightly. Always a last resort.
Being asked to do more with less.
Again
Who is staffing it?
Who is quality assuring that provision?
Who is paying for it?
Where will it physically take place in our cramped and crumbling schools?
No sch takes the decision lightly. Always a last resort.
Being asked to do more with less.
Again