Overview
- Tom Bennett, the Department for Education’s behaviour and attendance ambassador, said parents set weak boundaries at home and urged tougher school rules to restore order.
- Reported figures show about 16,000 pupils were suspended for assaulting an adult in autumn 2024, pointing to a sharp rise in serious incidents.
- Parent-school tensions have intensified, with the National Governance Association citing more than five million formal complaints in 2024–25 and a separate poll reporting widespread abuse of heads by parents.
- Some schools have leaned into strict policies, including weekend detentions and tight uniform rules, with Caldicot School reporting higher GCSE results after such measures.
- Unions and classroom voices pressed a different case, with the National Education Union backing a national effort on school violence and recent cases highlighting strain, including a Greater Manchester primary walkout and staff wearing bite sleeves.