As a teacher, leader and teacher trainer, Paul Dix has been working to transform the most difficult behaviour in the most challenging urban schools, referral units and colleges for the last 25 years. Miraculously, Paul trained at Homerton College, Cambridge, after countless attempts to sabotage his own education. He then moved on to work in tricky schools in East London, Nuneaton and Birmingham.In addition to working directly with schools, Paul has advised the Department for Education on the teachers standards, given evidence to the Education Select Committee and done extensive work with the Ministry of Justice on behaviour and restraint in youth custody. He has published five books on behaviour and assessment, in addition to over 250 articles on behaviour. Paul won a national training award in 2009 for his work in helping a school transform from failing to good in just nine months. He also chairs the board of directors of a multi-academy trust which comprises 11 special schools - a role he undertakes voluntarily - and leads the #BanTheBooths campaign (www.banthebooths.co.uk).
In this follow-up to his bestselling book When the Adults Change, Everything Changes, Paul Dix explains how teachers and school leaders can move beyond the behaviour management revolution and build a school culture rooted in relational practice. There is a behavioural nirvana. One that is calm, purposeful and respectful. Where poor behaviour is as rare as a PE teacher in trousers and where relationships drive achievement. Annoyingly and predictably, the road is hard and the ride bumpy and littered with cliches. It is achievable though. And when you get there it is a little slice of heaven. A revolution in behaviour can be exciting, dynamic and, at times, pleasantly terrifying. But revolution is short-lived. In After the Adults Change Paul shows you that, after the behaviour of the adults (i.e. the staff) has changed, there is an opportunity to go wider and deeper: to accelerate relational practice, decrease disproportionate punishment and fully introduce restorative, informed and coaching-led cultures. Paul delves into the possibilities for improvement in pupil behaviour and teacher-pupil relationships, drawing further upon a hugely influential behaviour management approach whereby expectations and boundaries are exemplified by calm, consistent and regulated adults.