Four fifths (80%) of school leaders in Northern Ireland say they have been abused by parents in the past year, a survey has revealed.

The poll by school leaders’ union NAHT NI revealed shocking examples of head teachers and other senior leaders being verbally and physical abused.

Verbal abuse was the most common form of abuse suffered, with 88% of school leaders in Northern Ireland saying they had experienced this in the past year. This was followed by threatening behaviour (76%), online abuse (30%) and discriminatory language (21%), including use of racist, sexist or homophobic terms. Nearly one in 10 (9%) suffered physical violence.

The survey exposed widespread reports of trolling on social media and in parent groups - as well as appalling instances of hate campaigns and harassment and intimidation.

Some school leaders said the abuse had made their lives a misery to the extent that they had considered quitting the profession they love. It has left some suffering anxiety, depression and panic attacks.

Nearly four in five (79%) leaders in Northern Ireland said abuse from parents had increased in the last three years, with more than a third (34%) of those saying it had ‘greatly’ increased. Nobody said abuse had decreased.

A third (33%) said they typically experienced abuse termly, a quarter (25%) said it usually happened every month, with 13% reporting it weekly, and 27% saying it was rare.

One senior leader in Northern Ireland said: ‘Parents often struggle to articulate their views when feeling stressed and verbal confrontations and abuse happen more often than they should. Pupils sometimes misreport incidents and parents immediately resort to aggression rather than discuss the situation and identify misunderstandings’.

Dr Graham Gault, NAHT NI national secretary, said: “These statistics paint an alarming and deeply troubling picture for schools in Northern Ireland - one that cannot be ignored.

“It is unacceptable that as public servants, dedicated to the education and well-being of children, they should be subjected to such treatment.

“Urgent action is required. We will continue to press employing authorities to take decisive steps in addressing unacceptable behaviour and violence, including online abuse, and to establish clear and robust processes for dealing with these incidents when they occur.”

Paul Whiteman, NAHT’s general secretary, said: “The vast majority of parents are very supportive of schools and in most cases the relationship between school and home is really positive. However, in recent years we have heard of a worrying increase in the amount of abuse school leaders are experiencing.  Some of the stories we are hearing about the appalling abuse leaders and their staff are suffering from parents are almost beyond belief.

“These are dedicated professionals, who work hard day in day out to deliver a first-rate education for children in often trying circumstances. No-one should have to suffer this sort of abuse in their place of work.

“It causes enormous distress for school leaders, their staff, and sometimes pupils, and is even contributing to decisions by good people to leave the profession at a time schools are in the grip of a severe recruitment and retention crisis.

“Where parents have concerns, worries or complaints, they of course should be able to raise these with the school, but that has to be done in a respectful manner. Put simply, whatever the situation, there is never an excuse for abuse.

“This also shows the importance of government treating the profession with the respect it deserves – too often teachers and leaders were publicly criticised and talked down to under previous administrations, sending completely the wrong signal.”

The union says its findings demonstrate the importance of its cross-nation No Excuse for Abuse campaign.

ENDS

Notes to Editor

• NAHT surveyed 1,642 school leaders across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland from 4-18 November 2024. There were 84 respondents in Northern Ireland.
• In response to abusive behaviour, almost a fifth (19%) of school leaders in Northern Ireland said they had banned parents from the school site in the last year, 20% said they had reported parents to police or the local authority or trust (17%). More than two thirds (67%) said they had arranged a meeting with parents, while 45% had issued a warning letter or email.
• Across the UK, more than four in five (82%) school leaders said they been abused by parents in the past year. Verbal abuse was the most common form of abuse suffered, with 85% of school leaders saying they had experienced this in the past year. This was followed by threatening behaviour (68%), online abuse (46%) and discriminatory language (22%), including use of racist, sexist or homophobic terms. One in 10 (10%) suffered physical violence.