Challenge: Moving beyond top-down behaviour reform

Previous behaviour programmes from the UK Government were criticised as lacking relevance to local contexts. This led to resistance and low buy-in from educators, preventing successful implementation.

Seeking to improve on these top-down behaviour policies, DfE published an independent evidence review: ‘Creating a Culture: How School Leaders Can Optimise Behaviour‘ (2017), led by Tom Bennett. Several core principles were identified, including:

  • a clear understanding of the school’s culture
  • high expectations for all, emphasising the importance of each student
  • consistency in the execution of school routines, norms, and values.

Solution: Improving behaviour through tailored one-to-one support

The Behaviour Hubs programme supported school leaders by helping them to create calm, safe and supportive environments. The programme helped more than 660 schools and multi-academy trusts across all provisions – including special schools – to make sustainable improvements to their behaviour culture.

EDT was responsible for recruiting and onboarding schools onto the programme. We also facilitated the core pillars of the programme, which included:

  • One-to-one lead school support – 60 exemplary lead schools and MATs provided tailored support to each school they were matched with.
  • Termly open days – Senior leaders observed effective behaviour culture in action, adapting ideas they saw for their own settings.
  • Training modules – Online CPD sessions were hosted by a team of expert behaviour advisers including Tom Bennett, Marie Gentles, and Stuart Lock.
  • Hub networking – These events provided an opportunity for schools to share best practice with their peers and reflect on common behaviour goals.

Importantly, no specific approach to behaviour was imposed. Instead, lead schools took time to understand individual contexts which increased buy-in and sustainability.

Impact: Creating lasting change that benefits over 300,000 pupils

EDT received more than 1,400 applications for just 650 places. More than one in six secondary schools in England (17%) applied to join Behaviour Hubs, as did 11% of alternative provision settings, 6% of special schools, and 4% of primary schools.

Our research report evidences a “moderately large positive improvement” in the Ofsted inspection behaviour judgements of schools who had participated in Behaviour Hubs. Schools with a ‘Requires improvement’ or ‘Inadequate’ judgement saw the biggest impact. As of 2024, of the schools who had been inspected by Ofsted under the updated framework, 97% now received a ‘Good’ or better behaviour judgement.

“In the past, sharing that there are challenges with behaviour of pupils may have been frowned upon. But the Behaviour Hubs programme makes it feel like everyone is in it together.”

– Chantry Middle School, Partner School Survey, July 2024

“In the first year, we reduced negative behaviour incidences by over 60%”

After graduating from Behaviour Hubs, we spoke with staff at Edward Worlledge Ormiston Academy to learn more about their behaviour journey.

The future of behaviour policy

Behaviour Hubs highlights that lasting school improvement is most effective when evidence-informed practice is combined with school-led support. The programme demonstrated the value of enabling high-performing schools to support others, providing a scalable framework with proven buy-in that can be tailored for local contexts.