Southwest Qld state school with the worst behaved students

After analysing dozens of southwest Queensland state schools and their annual student behaviour data, we can reveal who has the worst behaved. SEARCH THE FULL LIST.

A number of southwest Queensland state primary and secondary schools recorded an alarming number of student disciplinary absences in 2023.

An analysis of dozens of school records has revealed the southwest state schools with the most number of short and long student suspensions over a two-year period.

According to the school’s annual reports, short suspensions are between 0-10 days and long suspensions are between 11-20 days in duration.

Dalby State High School recorded the highest number of short suspensions for state high schools in the southwest, handing out a total of 338, a major increase from the 234 recorded in 2022.

Roma State College.

The Western Downs high school also recorded the highest number of long suspension in 2023, recording 24.

Coming in as the second highest in 2023, Roma State College reportedly handed out 309 short suspensions, a massive decline from the 473 in 2022.

In the Southern Downs, Warwick State High School handed out 251 short suspensions in 2023, a decrease from the 317 in 2022.

Warwick State High School

A Queensland Teachers Union spokeswoman said the increasing complexity of schools is likely affecting students behaviour.

“We recognise that the overwhelming majority of students attend school to engage positively but schools are becoming increasingly complex, with students coming from diverse and multifaceted backgrounds,” the spokeswoman said.

“Most state schools implement the ‘Positive Behaviour for Learning’ framework as a whole school approach, explicitly teaching instructional routines through daily teaching and learning activities.

“Yet, it is clear that a one-size-fits-all strategy does not meet the needs of every student.”

The union spokeswoman said their ‘Valuing our Profession’ campaign was at the forefront of discussions with the Ministerial Occupational Violence and Behaviour roundtables.

“We welcome the government’s Youth Engagement Package, which introduces more behaviour specialists, intensive case managers, and flexible learning spaces,” the spokeswoman said.

“Education is at a critical point right now and we call on the federal government to ensure state schools are funded at a minimum of 100 per cent of the student resource standard (SRS) so teachers can teach, and school leaders can lead.”

Queensland Secondary Principals Association president Mark Breckenridge told the Courier-Mail disciplinary actions were a “last resort” for any school principal.

“Absolutely they’re a last resort,” Mr Breckenridge said.

“Other options can be as simple as a conversation with parents, in-school detentions or work with guidance counsellors.”

Queensland Education data on Darling Downs South West schools revealed of 37,849 students in 2023, 7,502 received short suspensions with 321 handing out long suspensions.

An increase from 2022 with 7,219 short suspensions and 364 long suspensions handed out to students.

Further data from the Department revealed the most common bad behaviours landing students in trouble were ‘defiance’, ‘physical aggression’, and ‘abusive language’.

Queensland Secondary Principals Association president Kirsten Ferdinands said schools were representative of society and where there were a lot more community issues and more violence it may be represented in some individual schools.

“We’re hearing about youth crime, we’re hearing about youth violence. We are seeing that type of behaviour also crossing over into schools,” Ms Ferdinands said.

“So that number of exclusions would be similar to probably what the number of types of behaviours that the police and society is dealing with in regards to some of that youth and those youth aspects as well.

“Every school has its school of code of behaviour, and all state schools are very clear around you know that teachers have a right to teach and students have a right to learn.”

Originally published as Southwest Qld state school with the worst behaved students