Tougher discipline key to 'Outstanding' schools

Just one state secondary school in the Bournemouth, Poole and East Dorset area has received the accolade from Ofsted.

But strict uniform guidelines, formal assemblies, closer links with parents and zero tolerance of offences such as violence and foul language could lift other schools into the same league as Twynham in Christchurch, it has been claimed.

“Excellence does not happen by chance,” said Ofsted chief inspector Christine Gilbert. A report into 12 schools in some of the most disadvantaged areas of England showed standards had improved as more strict behaviour guidelines were introduced.

Bishop of Winchester in Bournemouth has come out of special measures and has seen exam results improve dramatically since head teacher Paul McKeown started three years ago.

“We insist that they turn up on time, they turn up every day and they turn up wearing their uniform correctly,” he said.

He added: “We have insisted on high standards of presentation and it has contributed massively to our turnaround.”

Chris Bradey, headteacher of Portchester School in Bournemouth, said: “I think it is important to set the students simple and clear expectations in terms of them having a positive attitude, being courteous to each other, being ready to listen and learn, bringing along to classrooms the right equipment and making sure they reflect the corporate image of the school in their uniform.”

Dr Terry Fish, head of Twynham, said: “The first thing of all is having a school that’s focussed on high quality teaching and learning. The other thing is that we have a culture which values all youngsters and which is supportive and helps people and works with the students and their parents.

“We will never allow a child to disrupt the learning of another child but sometimes youngsters go through difficulties in their lives and we have the whole raft of measures in place and people in place to help and support the children and their parents.”