The composition of classrooms is becoming gradually more diverse and nowadays bring together a wide range of students with different cultural, family and social backgrounds, increasing numbers of students in classrooms and the presence of diverse talents and learning difficulties/barriers create a complex environment, with emotional and behavioural problems which teachers find quite difficult to cope with. Teaching is becoming more difficult, due to these issues and complex situations, and has an impact on student’s learning processes and academic achievements, which can add on more pressure to the school and classroom climate.

In this context, secondary education institutions have a need for strategies, methods and tools to improve schools climate, increase respect for teachers and peers and reduce/resolve situations related to violence, bullying or absenteeism. An improved school/classroom climate has shown to have a positive effect on academic results. Schools (and teachers/educational staff) need to be able to improve the climate form a perspective of empowerment, respect, conflict resolution, empathy, and increased engagement. They also need to be able to involve their students as active players in this process.

TASC provides teachers, educational staff and school managers with the skills, competences and knowledge on how to handle conflict and challenging situations at school and how to manage their classroom efficiently.They will be able to address issues related to school/classroom climate through the implementation of the right approach or solution in a specific situation or context. As such they will be prepared to analyse the situation/context and select the most appropriate approach, action or solution, and do this taking into account the particularities of their students (e.g. with regards to age, family circumstances, classroom size, etc.) and the best moment to apply them (during a class, or extra-curricular activities for example).

In a school environment which is based upon mutual respect and trust, both teachers and students are more motivated and better academic results are achieved. This contributes to the reduction of dropout.

TASC main aim is thus to create a learning programme for teachers, educational support staff and school managers, that provides them with the knowledge, skills and competences to enhance and improve the climate in their classrooms. They will also acquire the knowledge and skills to approach this challenge in a strategic and coherent way, not only by applying the right actions, solutions or activity in a particular situation, but as a strategic and comprehensive programme across the whole school.