Abuse of school leaders

A poll of 1,600 National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) members revealed that over 80 percent of school leaders have been abused by parents in the last year. This has resulted in some being pushed to the brink of quitting the profession by the vitriol, threats and violence, while others now suffer from anxiety and depression.

Just over a third said they experienced such abuse on a monthly basis, with 16 per cent saying this typically happened every week.

The NAHT is urging ministers to review “complaints procedures to deter vexatious use of the existing system by parents” – which can involve referrals to the misconduct agency and Ofsted before school processes have been followed.

Whilst verbal attacks were the most common, with 85 per cent of those reporting abuse overall having experienced it in the last year, one in 10 suffer physical violence.

Eighty-six per cent of those polled said parental abuse had increased in the last three years. Only one per cent thought it had decreased.

The NAHT  has called for the government to send a clear signal to parents that it is unacceptable in schools.