Smacking children could lead to lower GCSE grades, study suggests
Smacking Children Linked to Lower GCSE Performance, UK Study Indicates
Research Highlights Potential Risks of Physical Punishment
Smacking children could lead to lower - A recent study has raised concerns about the effects of smacking children as a disciplinary tool, suggesting it may correlate with reduced academic achievement and increased risk-taking in adolescence. Conducted by University College London (UCL) researchers, the investigation analyzed data from 19,000 UK children born between 2000 and 2002, tracking their behavior and outcomes at ages three, five, and seven. The findings indicate that physical punishment does not yield positive results, with the team advocating for its prohibition in England and Northern Ireland, similar to Scotland and Wales.
While the Department for Education in England stated there are no immediate plans to amend the law on smacking, it reiterated that child safety and well-being remain central to its policies. Lead researcher Anja Heilmann, an associate professor at UCL, emphasized that the study revealed "no beneficial outcomes" from smacking, noting all observed effects pointed toward harmful consequences. The analysis focused on 7,559 GCSE students, comparing their scores with the National Pupil Database. It found that children who had been smacked were 5.7 percentage points more likely to fail to achieve five passes (A*-C) in core subjects like English and Maths.
Behavioral Risks and Regional Legal Status
The research also revealed a 33% heightened likelihood of 14-year-olds who experienced smacking in childhood engaging in risky behaviors, such as bullying. Heilmann expressed hope that the UK would eliminate physical punishment, ensuring children enjoy the same safeguards as adults. However, the study’s observational nature means it cannot definitively establish causation, as other variables may have influenced the results during the research period.
“My hope is that smacking stops in the UK so children have the same protection from physical assault that adults have.” — Associate Prof Anja Heilmann, UCL
Public Reactions and Debate
Some parents and educators support banning smacking, arguing it would provide legal safeguards for children. Others, like Ellie Lee of the University of Kent, caution against overgeneralizing the findings. Lee, who co-leads the Be Reasonable England campaign, stated: “It would be great if we could just be nice to children and think they would just be nice back. But the reality is that children need clear boundaries to understand societal rules and develop moral behavior.”
“It would be great if we could just be nice to children and think they would just be nice back.” — Prof Ellie Lee, University of Kent
Meanwhile, local advocates have voiced surprise at the continued legality of smacking. Amy Woods, owner of Baby College in Salford, called for an England-wide ban, adding, “Children need warmth, responsive relationships, and play to thrive—definitely not violence at a young age.” Sarah, a parent attending a playgroup with her 10-month-old son, echoed this sentiment: “I don’t think it’s a very good example to be setting to kids. If they hit someone and you smack them back, it doesn’t really reinforce that ‘this isn’t ok’.”
As of 2021, one in five 10-year-olds had been physically punished, with mothers having higher education levels less likely to use such methods. The Northern Ireland executive has yet to comment on the study, though smacking remains legal in both Northern Ireland and England. Scotland pioneered the ban on under-16s’ physical punishment in 2020, and Wales followed in 2022, leaving England and Northern Ireland as the last regions to retain the practice.