Rise of violence and dysregulated children at Bradford schools

Outbreaks of disorder at two Bradford secondary schools in recent weeks come amid a backdrop of even more serious incidents elsewhere in the UK.

Meanwhile, a Bradford union boss has revealed that one local primary school had to expel no fewer than seven children in just one year. 

On Wednesday, a 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a child and two adults were injured at The Birley Academy in Sheffield.

It comes just a week after two teachers and a pupil were stabbed at Amman Valley School in Carmarthenshire, south-west Wales.     

Last month, Dixons McMillan Academy in Bradford issued a firm warning to those who put pupils and staff in danger.

Principal Kat Lang said: “Over the last week, we have had a number of fights and aggressive incidents in school. Two of these have been very serious. This is unlike any behaviour I have ever witnessed at DMA, or even in my school career.

“I have issued two permanent exclusions in the last week to the two perpetrators of these incidents. This is the most serious sanction that I can issue. These students have lost their place and will not return to the school. I have also reported both incidents to the police, with a view to pursuing prosecution. 

“I will not tolerate any student or staff member being hurt or afraid in our building. A building that should be a safe space. 

“If your child assaults another child, or indeed a member of staff in our building, our safe space, please expect that your child will lose their place. I will not allow or accept behaviour of this nature. It is never excusable.”

Tom Bright, Bradford branch secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), said: “Incidents are on the rise - hard to know whether that’s fuelled by influencers who are trying to make children feel unsafe and need to protect themselves, but also people are getting more anxious and frustrated about everything in life.

“We had an incident the other day where a teacher turned round, a child tripped over them, and the child went for them and grabbed them by the throat. The teacher had done it accidentally. The child was so dysregulated. It’s the inability to regulate your behaviour in a way that is acceptable in society, people who literally just lose it. Unfortunately we’re seeing an increase in dysregulated behaviour. Partly that’s to do with the fact mental health problems are on the rise, the breakdown in families and social support for families. There’s a lot of reasons.

“Teachers are afraid of that. It’s making it more difficult. Most children come to school wanting to learn but it doesn’t take much for a difficult situation to spiral out of control.”

Just last week, chaos unfolded at Beckfoot Upper Heaton School in Bradford when a "large gathering of youths" threw "projectiles" at a fire engine.

The scenes at Beckfoot Upper Heaton School in Bradford (Image: Submitted)

The T&A has seen video footage showing large groups of pupils shouting, kicking the school’s gates and stamping on a sign.

One parent told the Telegraph & Argus they understood it was part of a protest relating to an aspect of the school's uniform/dress code policy.

In a fresh statement issued this week, a spokesperson for the school said: “The events that took place on Friday have had a deep impact on our school and the whole community. We’re working closely with the police and other relevant parties to investigate those events and establish the facts as to what happened. 

“This week senior staff are listening to parents in planned meetings. Our school has returned to the calm organisation that it usually is. We are working with all students so everyone is clear that unsafe behaviour is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. We are very grateful for all the community support that we have received, especially from our school’s families, who we encourage to contact us should they have any questions.”

A Government survey on behaviour, released just last week, found that just 39 per cent of pupils in England said they had felt safe at school every day.

Police were called to the protest at Beckfoot Upper Heaton School (Image: Submitted)

Mr Bright said: “Schools are stretched.

“The only way of preventing this is to increase the investment, both education and school support for young people. Youth clubs disappeared. Other activities that children could do have been disappearing. It’s about understanding socialisation.

“No child goes into school thinking, ‘I’m going to be evil’. If a child is presenting with an issue that’s a communication that schools need to have the time and resources to be able to respond.

“I was talking to a primary school where they had seven permanent exclusions in one year. This is a primary school, so what’s going to happen with those [children]? Where are they going to go? We do have facilities but Bradford does not have enough specialist schools for children who need that kind of support. 

“It’s a big problem for Bradford.”