Pupil attacks on South East teachers 'horrifying'

Government figures show a rise in suspensions for pupils who assault adults in schools

A teaching union said it was "horrifying" that some teachers had suffered serious injuries, such as fractures and loss of consciousness, due to pupil violence.

The BBC has discovered that 440 injuries to staff in the South East caused by acts of violence were reported to the Health and Safety Executive between 2019/20 and 2023/24.

The latest government figures also show there were 5,504 suspensions for pupil assaults on adults in schools across Kent, Surrey and Sussex in 2023/24, up from 4,365 in 2022/23.

The Department for Education (DfE) said: "Nobody should face violence or abuse in the workplace, including our incredible school staff who are vital to improving life chances for all children."

Matt Wrack, the general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, said it was "horrifying to hear that multiple teachers in the South East have reported experiencing suffering serious injuries".

"Sadly this is borne out by our own data where teachers report being bitten, kicked and punched while teaching," he added.

"Pens, scissors and even tables have been used as weapons."

Mr Wrack said the problem was worse in secondary schools, but they were also seeing an increase in this behaviour from primary pupils.

"It's frankly outrageous that teachers have started to see this as just part of the job," he said.

The government has announced a review into behaviour in schools.

"We need counsellors in every school and an increase in alternative provision for pupils with higher needs," added Mr Wrack.

Matt Wrack from the NASUWT said members had been bitten, kicked and punched

Last year a former teaching assistant from Sussex who quit the profession described her experiences.

"I saw children trash a whole office or a whole classroom, throwing chairs and tables around," she said.

Another teacher, who did not want to be named, told the BBC: "I've seen a student slap a teacher in the face.

"They threatened me with chairs, I've seen several incidents of physical assault by pupils on teachers."

Earlier this year a BBC investigation discovered councils in the South East had paid out tens of thousands of pounds in compensation to staff who have been injured by school violence.

New figures obtained by BBC South East using the Freedom of Information Act found that 106 injuries to staff were reported in the South East region to the Health and Safety Executive in 2023/24.

Over a five-year period there have been 440 injuries recorded.

The region covers Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire and Oxfordshire, according to the HSE.

Across the country, reports involving injuries to school staff caused by acts of violence have included loss or reduction of sight, concussion, fractures, dislocations and crush injuries.

Marie Gentles, a former teacher, believes some violent outbursts are linked to unmet need

Former teacher Marie Gentles, who is an education consultant and behaviour adviser, said: "We need to understand the reasons behind the behaviours.

"I do think some of it is linked to unmet need around special educational needs and mental health."

Matt Paterson, headteacher at Shears Green Junior School in Gravesend, Kent, said he had seen problems in recent years.

"There's been a spike in what I call distressed behaviours in schools, of children not being able to cope," he said.

The school has a welfare bus, but Mr Paterson said it was about to open a farm onsite to help with behaviour.

"I've now got a class of 18 children with a variety of needs who are going to be taught out on a farm, it's more of a practical curriculum," he said.

"They just can't cope full time in the classroom and it's when they can't cope in the classroom is when you see those destructive and big behaviours."

Matt Paterson, headteacher at Shears Green Junior School in Gravesend, is opening a farm at his school to help calm children

Surrey County Council said its most recent records indicate a general reduction in the number of permanent exclusions and suspensions relating to assaults against adults.

Medway Council told BBC South East proportionally it had not seen a significant rise in assaults on staff when the statistics were considered in relation to an increasing population and increasing pupil numbers.

West Sussex County Council said its Learning and Behaviour Advisory Team supported schools with learning and behaviour affecting a child's progress in school.

East Sussex County Council said: "All schools and academies in East Sussex work hard to support young people to be successful at school and strive to minimise the number of suspensions and exclusions."

A DfE spokesperson said: "As part of our Plan for Change, we are committed to turning the tide on poor behaviour, breaking down barriers to opportunity and ensuring every child can achieve and thrive.

"We've wasted no time in tackling the root causes of poor behaviour, including by providing access to mental health support in every school, making sure every child gets the fuel they need to learn through free breakfast clubs and expanding free school meals, and launching our new Attendance and Behaviour Hubs which will directly support the 500 schools that need the most help."