Quarter of teachers
'facing violence at school'
More than one in four teachers has been forced to deal with violent pupils this year, new figures show.
Research suggests that physical attacks are far more common in primary schools than secondary schools, with teachers reportedly being threatened, pushed, scratched, punched, bitten, kicked and spat at.
Teachers said the failure of many parents to act as "good role models" was leading to deteriorating behaviour in lessons.
In some cases, staff said mothers and fathers became abusive after staff attempted to discipline their children.
The disclosure was made in a study by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers ahead of the union’s annual conference this week.
Some activists will use the meeting in Manchester to call for parents to be stripped of child benefits for failing to keep children under control.
ATL’s Cheshire branch said a reduction in the universal benefit – worth up to £20 a week – would stop families “washing their hands” of sons and daughters.
Mary Bousted, general secretary, said: “It is totally unacceptable that poor student behaviour continues to be such a widespread problem in schools and colleges, and shocking that over a third of staff have experienced aggression from students’ parents or guardians.
“Staff should not be subjected to violent behaviour by either students or parents. Parents should be acting as good role models by supporting staff and helping them create a more positive learning environment for their children.
“Schools cannot be expected to solve the problems of society.”
The 160,000-strong ATL surveyed more than 1,000 teachers, lecturers and support staff in schools and colleges across the UK as part of the study.
Around six in 10 said standards of behaviour had deteriorated over the last five years and only three per cent suggested the problem had improved.
Almost nine out of 10 had been forced to deal with a badly behaved pupil in the current academic year, with the majority reporting low-level disruption or “disrespect”, such as the use of mobile phones in class, ignoring teachers’ requests or talking.
More than a quarter of all teachers said they had been confronted with physical violence, in some cases aimed at staff themselves. Teachers in primary schools were more than twice as likely to face violence than those in secondaries.
One head of department at a state secondary school in Leicestershire said: “I have been physically assaulted twice – both times violent behaviour was aimed at another student but in their rage hit me – and sexually assaulted twice.
“I feel that we get no support from Government – they have no idea of the reality of inner city schools.”
Another senior teacher from a state primary in Essex said: “I have had a threat to my life from a parent because I told a child to complete their homework during part of their ‘golden time’.
“It was threatened that they and their family would kill me when I came to or from school.”
A female secondary school teacher said: “I have been trapped in an office by a father and older brother of a student who were angry that he'd had his gold trainers confiscated until the end of the day.
“Two weeks ago I had a parent come in looking for me. He didn’t actually find me, but he threatened several senior staff and rampaged around the school. Police were called.”
Michael Gove, shadow schools secretary, said: "The Government has undermined adult authority in schools.
"Over the last ten years teachers have been denied the power to keep order in the classroom and stop violent incidents. Unless there is good discipline pupils can't learn and teachers can't teach and the children who suffer most are the poorest."
Vernon Coaker, the schools minister, said: "We have given head teachers clear legal powers to enforce discipline which means they can get tough on poor behaviour without fear of being taken to court, including using reasonable force to control or restrain pupils.
"Parents have also been made to take their responsibilities seriously.
"The Bill will give schools stronger powers to enforce these agreements when parents do not."
Daily Telegraph
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