Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the recent remarks by Tom Bennett regarding the inadequacy of teacher training with regard to managing behaviour in the classroom.

The government is committed to ensuring that all teachers are trained to tackle serious behaviour issues as well as low-level classroom disruption. We have not undertaken a formal assessment of any correlation between classroom behaviour and classroom seating arrangements; however Sir Andrew Carter’s recent review of initial teacher training (ITT) content identified that some training courses are insufficiently robust in terms of training teachers to manage poor pupil behaviour. That is why we have invited Tom Bennett, a renowned behaviour expert, to lead an expert group to develop core content on behaviour management for ITT. His group will consider how best to promote their recommendations to ITT providers.

All qualified teachers are required to meet the Teachers’ Standards, which include specific requirements for developing and demonstrating effective behaviour management skills. This includes setting clear rules and routines for behaviour in classrooms, and taking responsibility for promoting good and courteous behaviour both in classrooms and around the school.