Britain’s naughtiest schoolchild is called Jack, according to a poll for The Schoolwear Association. He answers back, refuses to do his work and doesn’t wear a school uniform, apparently.
Apologies in advance if your little treasure is called Jack! But you’re not alone – other names of children teachers said behaved badly are William, James, Josh and Kyle.
Katie Hopkins, you know the former Apprentice contestant who gets publicity today by stirring (we won’t use that s-word here, but you get the drift), will be gutted, I’m sure, that Tyler hasn’t made it onto the list.
At the other end of the scale, teachers said their best-behaved pupil is most likely to be named Sarah. Pat yourself on the back if you chose wisely! Sarah is followed by Lucy, Hannah, Harry and Jessica in the we
L-behaved stakes.
Teachers told pollsters children were less likely to misbehave when they came to school in a proper school uniform with a badge, and a third said children were worse behaved on non-uniform days.
Matthew Easter, Chairman of the Schoolwear Association, whose members clothe two thirds of UK children, said: “Behaviour is a huge issue in schools, and this survey shows a proper uniform is part of the solution with 83 per cent of teachers preferring their class to wear it. A uniform that is specific to a school creates a sense of belonging, looks smart and makes the child feel ready to work hard.”
The survey by OnePoll of 1,800 parents and teachers showed that on average children stay in uniform for two hours after school, meaning they wear their uniform for 1,500 hours a year.
According to behavioural psychologist and former student teacher Jo Hemmings, “Wearing a badged uniform gives a child a sense of pride and community, and helps promote positive well-being,” she says.
“It avoids bullying issues associated with having to keep up with the latest fashions, and instead gives children a feeling of unity and belonging to an identifiable group. But a badly fitting or tatty uniform means children stand out from their peer group, and can make them feel embarrassed or uncomfortable, and a likelier target for teasing and bullying. So it’s important to choose uniform that fits your child well, is comfortable to wear and good quality, and to keep it in good order.”
“School uniform has been shown to increase concentration in the classroom, leading to higher achievement. It even improves the way teachers relate to children. The positive perceptions created by school uniform create a halo effect, encouraging teachers to respond well to their pupils, and enhancing their good behaviour.”
And parents agree. Last year, in another survey by YouGov, more than 90 per cent of parents said that school uniform was good for maintaining discipline with 78 per cent saying it encouraged better behaviour in their children.
Two thirds of teachers told pollsters they found themselves telling off boys more than girls (now thats a surprise!), which backs up the poll results, which found that five of the naughtiest names are boys while four out of five of the names in the well-behaved list are girls.
