Eight school staff a day are attacked by children

EIGHT teachers are attacked by children every day in schools in Wales, disturbing new figures show.

Research by the National Union of Teachers Cymru shows teachers and other school staff have been the victims of more than 4,500 physical and verbal attacks by pupils over the past three academic years.

The union used the Freedom of Information Act to ask all 22 local education authorities in Wales for details of attacks.

Five – Bridgend, Caerphilly, Ceredigion, Conwy and Denbighshire – either did not, could not or refused to respond.

NUT Wales Secretary David Evans said: “Clearly any incidents of physical or verbal assault by pupils towards teachers or any members of the school staff are unacceptable.

“To see an average of around 1,500 incidents a year is a great concern.

“The details of the FOI do not cover the severity of these assaults, but of course we can only assume that they were notable enough to warrant school staff to feel the need to report them.

“That is alarming and does need to be given consideration by schools, local authorities and the Welsh Government. No teacher should feel unsafe or threatened within their working environment.

“That impacts on the individual teachers and of course their ability to deliver high-quality education to the rest of the class.

“A disruption in class, or in the school, due to physical or verbal assault by a pupil, is not conducive to a positive education environment.

“What these figures also show is that how different local authorities report these incidents varies widely.

“Some of the numbers are noticeably different when they shouldn’t be and so it does beg the question why there isn’t a more standard approach to monitoring which would help in terms of putting in place policies and training to reduce the impact it may have.”

Responding to the findings, a Welsh Government spokesman said: “Any form of violence or abuse against staff in our schools is unacceptable.

“We want our schools to be safe, welcoming environments where teachers can get on with their jobs, helping pupils achieve the best they can.

“Schools are required in law to have a written behaviour policy which should set explicit standards of behaviour.

“The policy should be developed and put into effect by everyone in the school.”

The union asked councils: “How many incidents of violence were recorded against primary school teachers or staff by pupils in your council area in each of the last three full academic years?” and “How many incidents of violence were recorded against secondary school teachers or staff by pupils in your council area in each of the last three full academic years?”