'Parents can be aggressive': four in five school leaders abused in last year

More than four in five school leaders say they have been abused in the past year, a survey has revealed.

82% of leaders in Wales said they have been subjected to verbal, physical or online abuse, according to a poll by the National Association of Headteachers (NAHT).

The findings have shed light on instances of hate campaigns, harassment and intimidation, with some school leaders claiming they considered quitting the profession due to having suffered anxiety, depression and panic attacks.

The survey reported the varying forms of abuse experienced by headteachers and other senior leaders:

Although verbal abuse was the most common experience of abuse reported by school leaders in the past year, over one in ten also reported being subjected to physical violence.

It comes as the NAHT said they received widespread reports of trolling on social media, as well as in online parent groups.

A third of leaders said they experienced abuse from parents monthly, with 14% saying it is a weekly occurrence.

Alun Ebenezer, headteacher at Caldicot school told ITV Wales that their 'strict, no-nonsense' approach to discipline received initial resistance from parents.

He said: "I think that parents can be aggressive, they can have a sense of entitlement. When I first came to Caldicot, there was definitely a reaction from parents against what we were trying to do. I don't see that now. I think initially, people questioned our approach, what we're trying to do. Now, I think almost everyone buys into that approach."

"Of course they come to school and challenge us on particular things, and so they should. I think the best parents are the ones who come in, they question, they challenge, they ask us things, they want to know answers, they disagree with things.

"The most difficult parents are the ones we can't get ahold of. But there are ways and means to challenge, and there is no place for aggression. No place at all."

Mr Ebenezer has been determined to apply a series of disciplinary expectations in Caldicot School since becoming headteacher.

He said their school rules include "no-nonsense, no means no, if I do something wrong there are consequences, I can't hide behind labels."

He added: "Initially, of course young people react against that, they don't want that, or so they think. But once they see it working, it actually makes them happier, feel safer, it makes their lessons better.

"It's hard, if it wasn't hard, every school would be doing it. But it has been a strict, no-nonsense, firm boundary, strict discipline [approach]."

Despite the initial backlash from parents, Mr Ebenezer noted: "When I talk about firm boundaries, strict discipline, no-nonsense... I get a pat on the back. Until it's their child.

"Everybody wants high standards until it's their child- because it's hard isn't it, it's hard bringing up teenagers I'm not pretending that it's not. But when they know that we are sticking to our guns, and 'no' doesn't eventually turn into 'yes' and parents can see that working and the impact it has, they eventually get on board."

One senior leader in Wales explained: "Nasty emails are becoming more frequent. I receive abusive emails often from parents without any thought or any balance."

Another said: "Slanderous vexatious complaints which are targeted at individual members of staff."

Laura Doel, NAHT Cymru national secretary, said: "These results lay bare a worrying trend emerging in Welsh schools whereby verbal and in extreme cases physical abuse is becoming part of the job. This is simply unacceptable. It cannot be the case that school leaders are subjected to this kind of treatment and more needs to be done to protect them.

"NAHT Cymru is calling on local authorities to work with us to tighten up complaints procedures and stand up to this abusive behaviour, ensuring schools are safe and nurturing environments for all staff and pupils."

In a statement, the Welsh Government said: "Any form of violence or abuse against staff in our schools is completely unacceptable. Children are best supported where parents and schools can work together, and where there is mutual respect and support.

"Bullying, harassment, and abuse should not be something our teachers face at any time, and a National Behaviour Summit is planned for the spring."

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