Behaviour experts to support schools with £10m behaviour hubs programme

The first lead schools for the Department for Education’s (DfE) £10m new ‘behaviour hubs’ project have been revealed with heads and behaviour leads from some of England’s highest performing schools and Multi Academy Trusts (MATs) confirmed as mentors and trainers.

The programme has so far seen 22 schools and two multi academy trusts from secondary, primary, special and alternative provision selected as leads in the programme, it has also seen the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson call for mobile phones to be banned in schools as he pledges to support heads taking a firm stance on discipline and behaviour.

The programme will run on a termly basis, with lead schools and MATs forming hubs with a different two supported schools each term. The programme will expand next year, with further lead schools and MATs appointed to support more schools to help reach the target of 500 supported schools over the three-year programme.

The Behaviour Hubs will commence from the start of the summer term, at a time when a minority of pupils may need extra support from their schools to re-engage with education following the pandemic to provide ongoing mentoring and support.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “Behaviour and discipline are the cornerstone to so much of what defines this country’s most successful schools.

“Whether it’s supporting some of our most vulnerable and disadvantaged children with the routines and structures needed to help them fulfil their potential, or helping prepare young people for the expectations of the workplace, parents and teachers know that orderly and disciplined classrooms are best.

“That is why I will always support schools taking a firm approach, for example taking action to tackle the scourge of ever-present mobile phones – because I know the positive impact it will have on students’ wellbeing and attainment.”