TEACHERS in Wales have warned that increasing numbers of physical assaults on teachers are having a major effect on well-being.

The Violence and Aggression in Schools reports, which combine new and recent union data with information from local authorities, suggest that violent assaults from pupils are increasing.

It also shows that teachers are not properly supported to deal with the assaults and may be contributing to increased numbers of teacher absences from work due to poor mental health.

The report found Welsh local authorities received 6,446 violent incident reports from schools in 2023-24, compared with 4,714 the previous year, and violent incidents in schools have more than doubled in the last three years.

NASUWT Wales national officer Neil Butler said: “We cannot allow violence and aggression to be normalised in school settings. 

“Government inaction has left teachers and pupils vulnerable to physical and verbal abuse.

“The Welsh school system must be overhauled to reflect pupils’ increasingly complex needs.”

A Welsh government spokeswoman said it would work with learners, parents, staff and other partners, and will hold a national behaviour summit in May.