Bach to basics regime deters school troublemakers

Derby school cuts number of students behaving badly by subjecting them to an hour of classical music

Classical music is behind a Derby school's success in cutting the number of pupils behaving badly by more than half, a head teacher said today.

Brian Walker, principal at West Park School in Spondon, Derby, turned to Mozart, Verdi and Bach as he tried to tame unruly students.

Youngsters at other schools might expect lines or a 30-minute detention, but those caught breaking the rules at West Park have to sit in silence for an hour listening to classical music on a Friday evening.

They are then subjected to a maths DVD before spending a final half hour writing up what they have learned. Badly behaved pupils are also named and shamed with their pictures plastered on video screens in the school.

Those committing lesser offences can expect to be made to copy out the poem Jerusalem, Walker's personal favourite.

The "Bach to Basics" regime, it has seen the number of pupils in trouble drop by 50%. In 2006, up to 60 pupils were missing lessons because of bad behaviour. Now, only around 20 find themselves in trouble regularly.

The school's GCSE results have also improved. It is one of only two schools in the city that has seen its pupils' grades go up recently.

Walker told the Derby Evening Telegraph: "I try to pick music to suit the season such as oratorios at Easter, or even medieval plainsong near Christmas.

"I can hear the groans as it starts but I always ensure the volume is high. Hopefully, I open their ears to an experience they don't normally have and it seems many of them don't want to have it again, so it's both educational and acts as a deterrent."