Eight assaults a day in Welsh schools


Teachers and other school staff in Welsh schools have been the victims of over 4,700 physical and verbal attacks by pupils over the past three academic years — or eight assaults a day — according to the National Union of Teachers (NUT).


NUT Cymru made a Freedom of Information (FoI) request to 22 local authorities in Wales. The FOI Request asked: “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?”


The responses were mixed with some local authorities only recording physical violence, while others made no distinction between verbal and physical violence. Five local authorities (Bridgend, Caerphilly, Ceredigion, Conwy and Denbighshire) either did not, could not, or refused to respond to the FoI request.


At the other 17 authorities, a total of 4,711 physical and verbal assaults took place over the three academic years; that averages out to 1,570 a year. And dividing the 1,570 figure by 195 — the number of teaching days in a school year — means there were an average of eight assaults a day.


https://www.teachers.org.uk/news-events/press-releases-wales/physical-and-verbal-attacks-wales