Teachers at state schools in the UK have experienced “physical aggression” from pupils with some being injured, a union has warned.
A survey 800 members of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) found that one in 10 state school teachers has been injured by a violent pupil. And two-thirds of teachers believe the standard of behaviour is getting worse.
Some respondents had taken leave from teaching as a result of pupils’ aggression, with 12% reporting a need to visit a doctor as a result of an attack from a pupil.
Three in 10 respondents said they had experienced “physical aggression”, while three-quarters reported being threatened or insulted by a pupil.
Speaking at ATL’s annual conference in Torquay, Mary Bousted, general secretary, said: “No teacher should have to tolerate these unacceptable levels of poor pupil behaviour and certainly no-one should be attacked in school.
“Not only is poor behaviour driving teaching staff away at an alarming rate – 65% have considered leaving the profession as a consequence – it is also damaging the chances of other pupils during lessons by causing major disruption.”
