Suspension head sees GCSEs rise

Mrs Haynes says she is not afraid to exclude pupils

A head teacher has seen results at her secondary school in Essex improve steadily after implementing a tough stance on suspending disruptive pupils.

Caroline Haynes, head of Tendring Technology College in Frinton-on-Sea since 2004, gave out 478 fixed-term exclusions in the year 2006-07.

In 2007 45% of pupils got five GCSEs - including maths and English - at grade A*-C, compared with 38% in 2004.

Many schools fear a lot of exclusions may harm their Ofsted report.

But Mrs Haynes said the school was not frightened to "stick its neck out" in this area.

"It's deemed not to be good to have too many fixed-term exclusions, but we think its better to set targets about behaviour, not exclusions," she said.

"Children need to know where they are, they need to know the boundaries."

While 45% of pupils met the government's benchmark of five GCSEs - including maths and English - at grade A*-C last year, 71% got five general GCSEs that year, compared to 48% in 2004.

Firm discipline

The school introduced its tough stance on exclusions after pupils said they were disenchanted with disruptive pupils spoiling their lessons.

"Very high on their list - for all students, even the naughty ones - was that they wanted to be in a school with firm discipline," said Mrs Haynes.

Mrs Haynes said parents were happy with the approach and the school was oversubscribed.

Exclusions at the school usually range from one to five days and only involve 4% of pupils.

Staff determine the length of suspensions in line with a child's previous record of behaviour.

Mrs Haynes added: "We do not just use punitive measures, as they do not always work.

"If necessary we do a full pastoral report and employ the services of specialists such as psychologists or nurses."

A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families spokesperson said: "Teachers are using the powers we have given them to provide short, sharp shocks to control discipline.

"Head teachers have our full support to permanently exclude pupils where their behaviour warrants it, and we trust their judgment to decide what sanctions will work best for the individuals and the school."