Posted on Wednesday 22nd Jun 2016
More than half (53%) of UK teaching assistants (TAs) have experienced physical violence at school in the past year, a poll by Unison has found.
The survey of more than 8,000 TAs found three-quarters (76%) had witnessed some form of physical violence.
More than half (53%) had experienced, and 73% had witnessed, verbal threats at school.
Ministers say no-one should have to work in fear of violence or harassment, in or outside school or online.
Unison surveyed 14,514 members who work in school support roles - such as technicians, administrative staff, caterers, cleaners, and librarians. Of these, 8,211 worked as teaching or classroom assistants.
It found that three-fifths (60%) of TAs had experienced - and 69% had witnessed - other verbal abuse at school and more than a third (38%) had experienced - 79% had witnessed - bullying at school.
Unison said its study showed that teaching assistants were facing a "barrage" of verbal threats and abuse in their job.
The survey of those in other support roles found:
One in five (20%) had experienced physical violence at school, while more than a third (34%) had witnessed it
A fifth (20%) had experienced (and 30% had witnessed) verbal threats at school
More than a fifth (27%) had suffered (and 32% had witnessed) other verbal abuse at school
Almost one in seven (15%) had experienced (and 28% had witnessed) bullying at school
The union's head of education, Jon Richards, said the report painted a "grim picture".
"Lessons couldn't go ahead without teaching assistants and staff should not have to put up with violence and abuse in the classroom. These are not just occasional incidents.
"Abuse is becoming a regular and alarming occurrence with more than half of teaching assistants coming across violent behaviour in the classroom, the playground or at the school gates.
"A lack of resources means schools are unable to address behavioural issues.
"Dealing with these problems can dominate the day when time could be better spent supporting children's learning."
Unison called on school governors and head teachers to do more to manage the behaviour of unruly and disruptive pupils to minimise the impact in the classroom and to provide full support to staff encountering violence.
Can't find what you are looking for?
Don't worry, please call us anyway to discuss your ideal job.
Latest News
06/12/24Ofsted "alarmed" by absences and "flexi-schooling."
The “alarming” level of children missing school has become a “stubborn and damaging issue”, according to the chief inspector of Ofsted, England's schools regulator. Sir Martyn Oliver said he was also worried about a rise in "flexi-schooling", where parents educate their children at home for part of the week. It is not clear how many children are taught in this manner. The Department for Education (DfE) said the government was putting education "back at the forefront of national life". Ofsted's annual report said attendance issues had "deepened" since the pandemic.
04/12/24Land handover paves way for Rosherville Primary Academy in Northfleet to expand and move to Cable Wharf in Ebbsfleet Garden City
A large parcel of land has exchanged hands to allow a “much-loved” primary school to expand and add hundreds of new places. Rosherville Church of England Academy recently won approval for its bid to move to a new site at the Cable Wharf Development in Northfleet.
03/12/24New building for Coxheath Primary School to support expansion to three-form entry
A village primary school is to be expanded to cater for the growing number of children in the area. Coxheath, near Maidstone, has seen its number of pre-school aged youngsters increase significantly from 510 in 2020, to 730 last year. Kent County Council (KCC) says without an expansion of the two-form entry Coxheath Primary School, they will not find a school place nearby.
02/12/24SEN centre to open at Cobham Hall Independent School in Gravesend early next year
A private school is set to take in students with special education needs (SEN in the new year. A new autism centre is opening in Cobham Hall Independent School in Gravesend. Called Bligh House, it will feature sensory rooms, quiet areas as well as swimming pool and sports hall facilities. Specialist staff will teach pupils aged 11 to 16 with a primary diagnosis in smaller class sizes. They will begin to be enrolled from January 2025 with a phased intake starting at 10 to eventually a capacity of 60.
28/11/24Primary school pupils should not have to sit ‘high-pressure’ tests says teaching union
There have also been calls for fewer end-of-course GCSE and A-level exams