Introduction
Key findings
Supporting members to tackle pupil indiscipline
Actions for teachers facing pupil indiscipline
 

Behaviour in Schools Report

The NASUWT Behaviour in Schools Report (right/below) is an in-depth study of more than 5,800 teachers and leaders.

The report was developed in response to data gathered from the union’s Big Question survey, alongside statistics taken from casework records, which show growing concern over violent and abusive pupil behaviour in schools.

The report explores:

• the evidence gathered through our research;

• the voices of teachers and their lived experiences; and

• a set of recommendations across the education system, including actions for us as a union and the expectations we will place on schools, local authorities and governments.

Key findings

Some of the key findings include, in the last 12 months:

• 40% of respondents have experienced physical abuse or violence from pupils in the last 12 months;

• 85% report verbal abuse or violence from pupils;

• 81% feel the number of pupils exhibiting violent and abusive behaviours has increased;

• 87% say the number of pupils verbally abusing staff members has increased.

More than a third of teachers (42%) strongly agree or agree that they are made to feel to blame if they have an issue with poor pupil behaviour.

Forty-three per cent also said that the culture in their school/college treats poor pupil behaviour as part of the job and they should expect to receive abuse/violence from pupils.

A similar amount - 39% - do not feel supported by their school or college’s approach to dealing with poor pupil behaviour.

You can find out more about the report and how the NASUWT will be supporting members to tackle this issue on the right/below.

Supporting members to tackle pupil indiscipline

We will represent the interests of teachers and school leaders robustly where school practices fall short of the standards of behaviour that teachers can reasonably expect.

If you have a concern about the way in which behaviour is being managed in your school, you should seek advice and support from the NASUWT immediately.

We also have a full range of online resources to support our members:

• Behaviour Management Principles: eight principles that underpin effective behaviour management and support the working lives of teachers in the classroom.

• Guidance on Developing a Behaviour Management Policy: a framework for those developing a behaviour management policy, which can also be used as a checklist to determine whether a school’s behaviour management policy addresses all the key issues appropriately.

• How to Review Behaviour Management Procedures: guidance that provides Workplace Representatives with information about what should be covered in a school’s behaviour management procedures.

• A Guide to Understanding Restorative Behaviour: a briefing offering advice and guidance for teachers and leaders across the UK on restorative behaviour and how to support good practice in schools.

• Advice on Large-scale Pupil Disorder in Schools: a briefing to provide information and advice to members on incidents of large-scale pupil disorder in schools and how these incidents should be addressed and prevented.

• Searching, Screening and Confiscation Advice for Schools.

• Pupil Behaviour Position Statement.

Actions for teachers facing pupil indiscipline

What to do if you are verbally abused and threatened:

• report the incident in accordance with the school’s behaviour policy;

• make sure the incident is entered into the school’s accident/incident book;

• keep a copy of any written report that you make;

• seek advice and support from the NASUWT as soon as possible.

What to do if you are abused on social media:

• keep a record of the incidents, including screenshots of any abusive or offensive material, to be used as evidence;

• avoid retaliating to, or personally engaging with, the pupil;

• do not submit a written report to anyone or make a statement to the police without the advice and support of the NASUWT.

The NASUWT has published updated guidance on dealing with the trauma of online abuse as a teacher, encompassing a detailed overview of the actions you should take if you are subjected to online abuse by pupils or students.

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• 
  • Press Release

  Westbourne Academy teachers strike over constant disruptive behaviour

  12 May 2025

• 
  • Press Release

  Scottish Government must go further and faster to turn the tide on violence and abuse in schools

  9 May 2025

• 
  • Press Release

  Far-right movements fuelling violence in schools

  2 May 2025

 

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