Four in 10 teachers face violence from pupils, ATL warns

More than four in 10 teachers and school support staff (43 per cent) have dealt with physical violence from pupils over the past year, according to a survey from the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL).

The ATL surveyed 1,250 school staff across England, Wales and Northern Ireland and found that 77 per cent had been pushed or shoved by a pupil, with around 90 per cent saying they had dealt with challenging behaviour such as shouting or swearing.

The Department for Education (DfE) responded to the figures by saying it had granted teachers more powers to ‘tackle poor behaviour and discipline’, by scrapping ‘no touch’ rules to allow teachers to remove disruptive pupils from the classroom and ensuring a school’s decision on exclusions cannot be overruled.

However, 45 per cent of staff that answered the survey felt that behaviour had become worse over the past two years, with approximately two thirds feeling that this was due to the fact that pupils are now under more stress.

Mary Bousted, general secretary of ATL, said: "It is shocking that more than four in 10 (43 per cent) education professionals have had to deal with physical violence from a pupil in the last year. No member of staff should be subjected to aggressive behaviour, in any form, while doing their job.

"A lack of funds for social services and child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) means pupils are at risk and, all too often, school staff are being left to plug the gaps in social care as best they can.

"Many schools do excellent work day in, day out to help pupils stay on track and to keep schools a safe place for pupils and staff.

"But schools need support from social and health services and parents to deal with the complex issues many pupils face due to chaotic home lives or mental health issues."