One in five teachers in England ‘hit by pupil’ in past year: survey

Nearly 20% of teachers in England reported being assaulted by a student over the past year, as schools face worsening student behavior post-pandemic, according to a survey.

Education chief Amanda Spielman previously attributed the rise in classroom disruptions to the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on student social skills, a problem she anticipated would require years to amend.

This issue has significantly burdened principals. The survey, conducted by the BBC via Teacher Tapp with around 9,000 respondents, also highlighted that 30% of teachers observed student fights recently, and 15% of secondary school teachers experienced sexual harassment from students.

The teaching union NASUWT is considering new strike actions due to the high stress levels staff are enduring. In 2023, educators, among other professionals, had already staged strikes driven by the cost-of-living crisis, eventually settling for a 6.5% salary increase in July.

The union is again contemplating industrial action concerning pay, workload, and overall teacher wellbeing, with an announcement expected soon. NASUWT's general secretary, Patrick Roach, emphasized the urgent need for reforms in teachers' pay, workload, work hours, and employment rights.