NEARLY a quarter of teachers are experiencing physical violence in the classroom at least once a week, a new survey of teachers has found.

A study published today by teachers’ union NASUWT said over half of teachers could quit due to facing violence at work.

According to the survey of nearly 5,000 teachers across Britain, almost one in 20 (4 per cent) reported being attacked on a daily basis.

And 89 per cent said they have suffered physical or verbal abuse from pupils over the last 12 months.

NASUWT leader Chris Keates contrasted the “fault-finding and blame” directed at teachers with posters stating zero-tolerance policies at hospitals, jobcentres and railway stations.

Nearly a third (29 per cent) of teachers have been hit, punched or kicked and 39 per cent have been shoved or barged.

Seven per cent have been spat at, and 3 per cent have been head-butted.

Over a quarter (27 per cent) report having had their property damaged.

“No teacher should ever have to go to work with the expectation of being verbally or physically abused, but it is clear from this survey that for too many teachers this is the day-to-day reality,” Ms Keates said.

“Pupil indiscipline is now second only to workload in teachers’ concerns about their job and is a contributory factor to the teacher recruitment and retention crisis.

“It is simply unacceptable that employers are failing in their legal duty of care to provide a safe working environment.”

The survey also found that 86 per cent of teachers have been sworn at, while more than four in 10 (42 per cent) have been verbally threatened.

Nearly half (46 per cent) experienced anxiety, depression or stress, and more than eight in 10 (81 per cent) say the abuse from pupils has affected their morale and enthusiasm. 

Three-quarters did not feel they had the resources or support to meet the behavioural needs of all the pupils they teach.

And the physical and verbal abuse from pupils has driven over half (52 per cent) of teachers to seriously considering leaving the profession or they are planning to leave teaching shortly.

The same proportion said they had been made to feel they were to blame for poor pupil behaviour, while 49 per cent verbal and physical abuse was considered “part of the job.”