A significant number of school leaders in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland have reported experiencing various forms of abuse from parents over the past year, according to a recent survey. The survey revealed that incidents have ranged from verbal and online harassment to physical violence, including being spat at and physically attacked.

The severity of these incidents has led to 42% of school leaders banning parents from school premises in the last year. Additionally, about a third of participants have reported parents to the police, and 72% have issued formal warnings or emails. Verbal abuse was the most frequently reported issue, followed by threatening behavior, online harassment, and the use of discriminatory language.

One in 10 of these incidents involved physical violence, and nearly 9 out of 10 school leaders felt that this problem has worsened over the past three years. More than 1,600 members of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland responded to the survey, with only 18% reporting that they have not personally experienced abuse from parents in the last year.

Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the NAHT, highlighted the severity of these incidents, calling for government action to clearly communicate that such behavior is not acceptable in schools. The union is also pushing for a review of complaints procedures to address the issue of malicious complaints.

Debra Walker, a former school leader and now CEO of the Iris Learning Trust, shared her personal experiences with abuse, including being slapped and threatened with murder. She has spearheaded a campaign against such behavior, emphasizing that it comes from a small minority of parents across different backgrounds but has a significant impact on school staff.

The Department for Education has responded by stating its commitment to addressing poor behavior in schools and ensuring a safe working environment for staff.