Otago schools appear to have a good grasp on dealing with pupils with severe behaviour, the latest Ministry of Education school disciplinary figures show.
Yesterday, the ministry released the numbers of learners who were stood down, suspended, excluded or expelled from New Zealand state and state-integrated schools in 2011.
Nationwide figures show stand-down rates have fallen for the fifth consecutive year, and rates for stand-downs, suspensions and exclusions are at their lowest in 12 years of recorded data.
Group manager Leo Trompetter said any decision to stand down, suspend, exclude or expel pupils was made by school boards, and must be reported to the ministry.
"Stand-downs may be ordered for up to five days, and can offer a positive opportunity to reduce tensions and reflect on behaviour."
When matters were not resolved, schools may opt to suspend a pupil and could escalate proceedings to exclusion for pupils under 16, or expulsion for pupils 16 or over, he said.
"In the longer term though, it is widely recognised that punitive and exclusionary approaches to discipline do not bring about sustainable changes in behaviour.
"We know that proactive partnerships with parents and keeping the focus on both achievement and behaviour are key," Mr Trompetter said.
Otago Primary Principals Association president and Wakari School principal Brent Caldwell said the figures indicated Otago schools had a good record in dealing with severe behaviour.
"The very low expulsion rate, as compared to the national average, reflects that principals' and boards' processes for dealing with severe behaviour are robust.
"They work hard to ensure the health and safety of all students, while ensuring students with severe behaviours can be supported and are able to remain engaged within the education system," Mr Caldwell said the ministry's $60 million Positive Behaviour for Learning plan, which started in 2009, supports schools and parents in managing challenging behaviour.
It includes parenting-skills training for 15,000 parents; positive behaviour training for 7240 early childhood and primary school teachers; the implementation of a school-wide approach to behaviour in 400 schools; a nationwide behaviour crisis response service; and a targeted intensive behaviour service for up to 100 of the most challenging learners.
