Deviance and Violence in Schools
DEVIANCE AND VIOLENCE IN SCHOOLS
A REVIEW OF THE EVIDENCE IN E NGLAND 1
CAROL HAYDEN, INSTITUTE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH
ABSTRACT
The article outlines the nature and development of the debate about deviance and violence in schools in England. It explains disciplinary differences in the use of terminology. The focus is on summarising the most recent evidence about the nature and extent of these issues. Policy and practice developments targeted at reducing problem behaviour in and around schools are discussed. The article concludes that there is a great deal of survey and monitoring data in England but a relative lack of in-depth and ethnographic research.
KEYWORDS
England, deviance and violence, schools
The focus is on England, rather than Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) or the United Kingdom (which includes Northern Ireland). Although the four countries have the same government there is a degree of devolution of power that means that there are important differences in the way that the education systems are run, as well as differences in legal governance. The central government Department for Children Families and Schools (DCSF) covers England and Wales only. A few references include evidence from Wales, as well as England; there is one reference to an important longitudinal survey carried out in Scotland.
1
International Journal of Violence and School – 9 – September 2009
8
BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION
FOCUS AND APPROACH OF THE REVIEW
This review is focused on England and on the most recent research and developments, referring to older research and reports only when they are considered to be landmark or seminal studies. As shorthand this paper will at times refer to ‘problem behaviour’ when not specifically referring to criminal behaviour (that is behaviour that breaks the criminal law) or specific types of behaviour that are clearly defined in research, as in the concept of bullying. The approach taken
A REVIEW OF THE EVIDENCE IN E NGLAND 1
CAROL HAYDEN, INSTITUTE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH
ABSTRACT
The article outlines the nature and development of the debate about deviance and violence in schools in England. It explains disciplinary differences in the use of terminology. The focus is on summarising the most recent evidence about the nature and extent of these issues. Policy and practice developments targeted at reducing problem behaviour in and around schools are discussed. The article concludes that there is a great deal of survey and monitoring data in England but a relative lack of in-depth and ethnographic research.
KEYWORDS
England, deviance and violence, schools
The focus is on England, rather than Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) or the United Kingdom (which includes Northern Ireland). Although the four countries have the same government there is a degree of devolution of power that means that there are important differences in the way that the education systems are run, as well as differences in legal governance. The central government Department for Children Families and Schools (DCSF) covers England and Wales only. A few references include evidence from Wales, as well as England; there is one reference to an important longitudinal survey carried out in Scotland.
1
International Journal of Violence and School – 9 – September 2009
8
BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION
FOCUS AND APPROACH OF THE REVIEW
This review is focused on England and on the most recent research and developments, referring to older research and reports only when they are considered to be landmark or seminal studies. As shorthand this paper will at times refer to ‘problem behaviour’ when not specifically referring to criminal behaviour (that is behaviour that breaks the criminal law) or specific types of behaviour that are clearly defined in research, as in the concept of bullying. The approach taken
References: www.teachernet.gov.uk DCSF, (2008c), Permanent and Fixed period exclusions from school and exclusion appeals in England, 2006/07, SFR 14/2008, 24th June 2008, www.scsf.gov.uk DEBARBIEUX, E., BLAYA, C., (eds) (2001) Violence in Schools. Approaches in Europe. Paris: Elsevier Science. www.yjb.gov.uk MORI, (2008a), MORI Youth Survey 2008