Many teachers are experiencing violence and abuse from pupils, a survey of teachers suggests. Nearly a quarter (24%) of teachers say they face violence once a week, the poll of nearly 5,000 members of the NASUWT teachers' union finds.
Four in 10 (42%) have been threatened verbally. "Verbal abuse is now part of the daily working landscape for a primary teacher," one teacher said. Official figures from the Department for Education showed that in the academic year 2016/17, 655 pupils in England were excluded for a verbal assault against an adult, while 59,675 were given a fixed-term exclusion.
The statistics show 745 were permanently excluded for a physical assault against an adult and 26,695 were excluded for a fixed period. These figures were higher than the previous year 2015/16. The NASUWT, discussed the issue of discipline at its annual conference in Belfast on Saturday. Delegates passed a motion saying the union would "defend members through all legitimate means, up to and including industrial action".
DfE guidelines say teachers in England have the "statutory authority" to discipline pupils whose behaviour is unacceptable or who break the school rules.
This power also applies to all paid staff (unless the head teacher says otherwise) with responsibility for pupils, such as teaching assistants.
The guidance states that:
- teachers can discipline pupils at any time the pupil is in school or elsewhere under the charge of a teacher, including on school visits
- they can also discipline pupils in certain circumstances when a pupil's misbehaviour occurs outside of school
- they have the power to impose detention outside school hours and can confiscate pupils' property.
