Workplace Report February 2006

Health & safety news

Threats against teachers

Teachers face a daily torrent of abuse and threats, according to a new survey carried out in the south-west of England by the NASUWT teachers’ union.

Over a two-week period, there were 13 incidents in which pupils threatened teachers with violence, from “I’m going to petrol-bomb your car,” to “I'm going to get my brother to stab you in the face.”

“It is essential that the health and welfare of staff is protected by a clear school policy of zero tolerance of this type of behaviour,” said NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates.