Violence against teachers in Wales soars
Lauren Higgs
Friday, February 17, 2012
The number of violent attacks on teachers has risen by more than a third over the past three years, according to figures obtained by the Welsh Conservatives.
The number of assaults on teachers rose by as much as 50 per cent in some local authorities, including Swansea, Blaenau Gwent and Rhondda Cynon Taff.
The figures, uncovered by Clwyd West assembly member Darren Millar, show the number of pupil exclusions due to assault rose from 913 in 2007/08 to 1,234 in 2010/11.
Millar said: "No-one should have to put up with threats of violence or aggression at work. Teachers across Wales do an outstanding job for our young people, but need to be supported so they can focus on what they do best – teach."
Angela Burns, shadow minister for education, argued that the "alarming figures" lay bare the challenges facing teachers in the classroom.
"Teaching should be one of the most rewarding professions, but as these figures show, the threat of violence can make the job a misery," she said. "Aggression in the classroom is not only threatening for teachers, but also other pupils whose education is interrupted, damaging their prospects.
She went on: "The Welsh Labour government needs to cut back on bureaucracy and work more closely with schools to remove troublesome students who are disrupting the education of the vast majority of young people."
But a spokesman for the Welsh government insisted that violence and aggression against teachers or pupils in schools is not tolerated.
"It is important that schools are safe places to be to ensure the best possible educational environment for our young people," he said. "We have already introduced powers and duties for school discipline, parental responsibility and exclusion which include revised guidance on the use of force to control or restrain pupils."
The spokesman added that the government’s 20-point education plan highlights improving behaviour in schools as a key priority.
"We have published and distributed to each secondary school in Wales a handbook highlighting best practice approaches to manage pupils’ behaviour in the classroom, with a similar handbook for primary schools being released in the spring," he said.
"We have provided direct funding to train teachers and support staff in well established behaviour management techniques. We are also strengthening the induction of newly qualified teachers with the introduction of behaviour management modules. These are currently being developed with a view to introduce them from next academic year 2012/13."
