A recent report by education inspectors has revealed that colleges are experiencing a decline in behavior, with male students enrolled in courses like construction being identified as the main culprits. Estyn highlighted issues such as absenteeism, vaping, lateness, and misuse of social media as common problems affecting students. The report also noted that students are still grappling with the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on their social skills and resilience.
Funding was cited as a significant obstacle to improving behavior in colleges, with Estyn calling for clearer national guidance on how to address these challenges. In response to the report, the Welsh government stated that it is actively working on improving behavior in schools and colleges, and has organized a roundtable discussion on safety to address these issues.
While there were instances of positive behavior among students, Estyn found that patterns varied across different student demographics and courses in further education colleges. Male students, especially those enrolled in vocational trade courses like construction, were more likely to exhibit negative behaviors, such as using inappropriate language towards female learners. Influences from controversial social media figures were also identified as contributing factors to poor behavior in male-dominated courses.
Inspectors highlighted that the design of college buildings could sometimes influence behavior, with issues like poor punctuality, mobile phone misuse, and smoking in or near college buildings contributing to negative behavior. Although serious issues like sexual harassment and substance misuse were less frequent, they remained a concern among staff. The impact of the pandemic was also evident, with reports of some 16-year-olds displaying maturity levels akin to younger children, indicating a struggle to cope with academic and social challenges
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