Reducing violence in schools

The purpose of this advice is to help schools to:

• promote a climate of non-violence
• respond to violent incidents in ways which help prevent a recurrence.

The advice is not directed to dealing specifically with incidents of extreme violence, which require schools to take exceptional steps.

The advice forms the basis of three sets of learning materials for the National Programme for Specialist Leaders in Behaviour and Attendance (NPSLBA).

The advice makes explicit links to the behaviour and attendance strands of the national strategies for Primary and Secondary schools.

The sections of the advice cover:

• a safe school – how do schools gather and analyse information to improve their safety;
• involving pupils and their families – open communications, supporting individuals and groups;
• curriculum – developing the social emotional and behavioural skills of pupils;
• school organisation – the routines and responsibilities which give the community confidence;
• travel and school surroundings – within the legal limits how schools work to create safe travel routes.

Each of these sections then gives links to specific strategies for implementation. Each strategy then links to 'signposts' pointing to examples of how schools have implemented a strategy, or links to other sources of information.

The advice has been developed in collaboration with unions representing staff and a wide range of other groups with expertise and interest in the field. The advice also links directly to other strategies or organizations.

Key sources

• Every Child Matters (Children Act 2004) sets out how schools can work in partnership to achieve five goals for all young people:

1. be healthy
2. stay safe
3. enjoy and achieve
4. make a positive contribution
5. achieve economic well-being.

Website: www.everychildmatters.gov.uk (link opens in new window)

• The Primary and Secondary National Strategies (behaviour and attendance strand) support professional development for all staff in primary and secondary schools.

Website: www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk (link opens in new window)

• The National Programme for Specialist Leaders of Behaviour and Attendance supports the development of school leadership at all levels to reduce violence.

Website: www.teachernet.gov.uk/npslba (link opens in new window)

• The handbook on violence reduction for schools in Europe is a guide to effective practice drawn from experience in a number of countries.

Website: www.coe.int (link opens in new window)

• Developments in violence reduction may result from a school self-evaluation in preparation for national awards, such as the National Healthy Schools Standard, particularly through promoting emotional health and well being (including dealing with bullying).

Website: www.wiredforhealth.gov.uk (link opens in new window)

• Anti-bullying strategies are vital in violence reduction in schools.

Website: www.dcsf.gov.uk/bullying (link opens in new window)

• The Ofsted self-evaluation framework can be used to help schools in different settings assess their progress in reducing violence.

Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk (link opens in new window)

• The UK Observatory for the Promotion on Non-Violence (linked to the University of Surrey) gathers research and evidence of how schools promote a climate of non-violence in practice.

Website : www.ukobservatory.com (link opens in new window)