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Why traditional discipline isn’t working in high schools (and what to do instead)

Engaging adolescents

High school

Behaviour

By Parentshop Staff

24th June, 2025

Detentions. Withdrawals. Warnings. Suspensions.

Most high schools still rely on traditional discipline models to manage behaviour. But here’s the problem: these approaches don’t teach skills. They punish the behaviour, but they don’t guide the student in how to change it.

In today’s secondary classrooms, we’re seeing rising numbers of students with anxiety, behavioural issues, ADHD, and emotional regulation challenges. These students often don’t respond to compliance-based discipline. They need coaching, not just consequences.

What’s the alternative?

Engaging Adolescents™ in High Schools offers a practical, evidence-informed approach to managing teenage behaviour. This training helps educators and student support staff guide teens through conflict using calm authority, realistic boundaries, and clear decision-making tools.

You’ll learn how to:

  • Manage pushback and defiance without escalating the situation

  • Support teens in developing self-control and social responsibility

  • Guide difficult conversations using the 3-Option Model and decision-making flowchart

  • Reduce power struggles and create space for accountability.

This isn’t about letting things slide. It’s about moving from reactive discipline to intentional, skill-building conversations that support long-term change.

A new way forward for secondary school culture

Engaging Adolescents™ is designed to help school staff shift from managing behaviour to shaping it. It offers a school-wide framework that works across wellbeing teams, year advisors, leadership, and builds teacher capabilities to proactively create effective classroom environments for better learning outcomes.

If your staff are exhausted from repeating the same consequences, or you’re ready to rebuild behaviour expectations from the ground up, this training is for you.

Join us for one of our upcoming courses:

  • Friday 27 June Tuesday 23 September 2025 | Face to face | Brisbane - South Leagues Club

  • Tuesday 21 October 2025 | Live online webinar

  • Tuesday 18 November 2025 | Face to face | Sydney

Time: 8.30 am to 3.30 pm AEST

Cost: Face to face $450 including GST per participant | Webinar $399 including GST per participant

More information and REGISTER HERE.

About the author

Australia's leading child, teen and adult anxiety and behaviour-change specialist We help the community navigate how to raise the new generation, via evidence-based courses for professionals and parents.

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