53 per cent of teaching assistants have faced violence at school, research suggest

53 per cent of classroom or teaching assistants working in schools across the UK have experienced physical violence over the past year, according to figures published by Unison.

The figures were published in Unison’s report ‘Bad Form: Behaviour in Schools’, which also found that 76 per cent of teaching assistants had witnessed violence at their school in the last 12 months.

Overall, 20 per cent of education support staff, which includes school business managers, technicians, librarians, administrative workers, caretakers, cleaners and catering staff, that took part in Unison’s survey reported to have experienced violence.

The public sector union believes that worsening behaviour in school is a direct result of cuts to staff and resources, which has left teaching assistants to face a barrage of violent behaviour, threats and abuse.

Unison has called on school governors and head teachers to do more to manage behaviour of unruly pupils and better support staff who encounter violence. Additionally, the union wants more to be done to make clear to parents that violent behaviour will not be tolerated.

Jon Richards, Unison’s head of education, said: “This paints a grim picture of the way cuts and a general lack of cash are having a huge effect on school support staff.

“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.”