Low-level classroom disruptions have been hindering the learning process for years, making attention-seeking behaviors from a few students the bane of many teachers’ lives. Positive behavior policies can reduce this issue, but need consistent application, proper training, and flexibility from teachers. However, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has failed to address the problem of untrained teachers educating children, including unqualified teachers and employment-based trainees. This problem will only worsen as students are forced to study a narrow range of subjects with an inadequate number of trained teachers. This can lead to a lack of engagement and progress for students, especially those in lower sets with less experienced teachers.

Instead of appointing a behavior tsar, we should focus on creating schools that students want to attend and classes that engage and empower them. This requires a shift toward a more participatory education system, where students, teachers, and parents have a say in school decisions. Such a system has already been implemented in various schools in the UK and abroad.

Moreover, good classroom behavior requires a variety of factors, including challenging and fun learning experiences. However, government policies make it harder for teachers to deliver these factors through a curriculum focused on test preparation and rote learning. This leaves many students labeled as failures through repeated testing and assessment, leading to disaffection. Instead, there should be a massive expansion of pupil referral units for excluded students to address this issue.

In conclusion, addressing low-level disruptions requires a comprehensive overhaul of the education system that prioritizes student engagement and empowerment, proper teacher training, and a broader curriculum that does not rely solely on test preparation.

In a recent report, medical professionals issued a warning regarding the potential long-term health risks adults may face as a result of prolonged inactivity while sitting still. The report emphasizes the need for frequent physical activity. However, the education secretary’s plan to eliminate "chair rocking" and enforce hours of uninterrupted stillness for schoolchildren contradicts this need. Despite organized physical education activities and games, children spend a vast majority of their school hours sitting in poorly designed chairs or on the floor. This is especially difficult for younger primary school children who do not have the opportunity to move around between classes. While this method may be the most practical for managing large numbers of children with minimal adult supervision in small spaces, it is not in the students’ best interests as it can negatively impact their physical and mental wellbeing.