Perpetuity Research, a unit of the University of Leicester, has recently undertaken a survey into school safety from the teacher’s perspective and the results are truly shocking.
• 20% of teachers reported that they avoided certain parts of the school through fears for their safety.
• Attacks and threatening behaviour to teachers is the biggest reason for pupil exclusion
• 2/3 of teachers reported being assaulted or verbally abused by pupils in the last 12 months, with 20% reporting being bitten or punched.
• 1/3 said they were considering leaving school due to fear over their own safety
Martin Gill the head of the research project stated that “Teachers avoid certain areas as they do not feel safe. They told us that playgrounds, corridors and collection points were avoided at certain parts of the day”.
Even though I work in education I find these results shocking, profoundly depressing and a horrible testament to 10 years of “education, education, education”.
