Whenever I show visitors around the school, invariably, they comment on how calm the atmosphere is and how polite and confident our girls are.
Similarly, when we take trips out of school, we have often had members of the public comment to staff how impressed they are by our girls’ behaviour. Good behaviour is undoubtedly a cornerstone of effective learning, reduces anxiety and creates classrooms where every pupil has the opportunity to succeed.
Behaviour in many UK schools remains a serious challenge: an article on BBC news today Do not always send suspended students home, government tells schools – BBC News shows school suspensions in England have risen sharply in recent years, with nearly one million fixed-term suspensions recorded in 2023–24—up around 21% on the previous year—and ‘persistent disruptive behaviour’ cited.
I am proud to say at PHS behaviour really is excellent. We do not claim perfection—children are learning, and mistakes happen—but we build a warm, respectful culture with clear boundaries that pupils respond to. Our expectations are consistent and well understood, and staff and pupils work together with mutual respect. As a result, classrooms are calm and purposeful, and children can focus on learning and flourishing.