The survey, which has been conducted by the NASUWT, finds that students aged 12 to 14 are the most likely to exhibit this kind of behaviour, followed by those aged 15 and 16.
The findings, which were compiled in May and June this year, show that during the previous 12 months respondents have experienced:
- Physical abuse or violence (37%).
- Verbal abuse (90%).
- Backchat and rudeness (97%).
- Being sworn at (81%).
Of those teachers who were victim to physical abuse or violence, 14% were hit or punched, 11% were kicked, 39% were shoved, and 6% were spat at.
A majority of the teachers said that the number of students exhibiting physically violent and abusive behaviours (89%) and verbal abuse (93%) has increased in the last 12 months.
The NASUWT’s report – Behaviour in schools (2023) – states: “Specific experiences included a teacher who was hit in the abdomen by a window pole. There are also multiple reports of furniture, including chairs, being thrown at teachers, including one incident where the member of staff was seven months’ pregnant.”
Other anecdotes reported to researchers include:
- “I had a knife waved in a threatening manner towards my face.”
- “Resources and equipment being thrown at head and other body parts. Threats to my family, water and other liquids being thrown at me.”
- “Objects thrown at me. Misogynistic comments are very prevalent.”
One respondent told researchers: “Children have changed dramatically. I do not feel that as an experienced teacher I know how to meet needs. My whole career has been destroyed this year due to behavioural management and how my school has dealt with it. I am desperate to leave teaching. The current situation isn’t sustainable.”
The bulk of the teachers reported physical violence and abuse incidents at least once a year (31%) or once a term (27%), but 12% said they occurred at least once a month and 7% once a fortnight.
Meanwhile, of those who reported being victim to verbal abuse, one quarter said this happened several times a week. The verbal abuse included including being sworn at, threatened, and targeted with racial or sexual insults.
Worryingly, when reporting incidents, only 15% of the teachers said appropriate action was always taken by the school.
Of the teachers surveyed, 73% felt that poor socialisation skills following the pandemic lockdowns are to blame for the increase in incidents. Other respondents blamed ineffective restorative justice programmes, the introduction of “no exclusion” policies, or little or no teaching assistant or SEN support in class.
Furthermore, 45% of the teachers said that they are made to feel to blame if they have an issue with poor behaviour.
Dr Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT, said: “The lack of appropriate in-school support and long waiting lists to access specialist services are contributing to a behaviour crisis which schools are struggling to contain.
“However, instead of giving better support to classroom teachers too many schools and colleges are placing responsibility for poor student behaviour at the door of teachers. This culture of teacher blaming is becoming increasingly widespread, while bad employers are failing to take seriously their responsibilities for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of staff working in schools.
“A failure to tackle violence and abuse in schools today will have long-lasting consequences for teacher recruitment and retention and for the education of children and young people.
- NASUWT: Behaviour in schools: Key messages, September 2023: https://tinyurl.com/bddtvrz5