Four in five school leaders have been abused by parents in the past year

More than four in five head teachers and senior staff in Wales say they have been abused by parents in the past year, a survey has revealed. Verbal abuse was the most common form of abuse suffered (78%) with threatening behaviour (64%), online abuse (39%) and discriminatory language (18%), including use of racist, sexist or homophobic terms following.

More than one in 10 (12%) suffered physical violence, the poll by school leaders’ union NAHT shows. School violence has been a hot topic since the attack on two teachers in Ammanford, with one of the victims calling for more protection.

The survey exposed widespread reports of trolling on social media and in parent groups on - 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.

Those questioned said it had increased. Nearly a third (31%) of school leaders in Wales said they typically experienced abuse from parents every month, with 14% saying this happened weekly.

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

Another told of, ‘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.” Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here

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 facing a severe recruitment and retention crisis - directly affecting the quality of education children receive.

"Where parents have concerns, worries or complaints, they of course should be able to raise these with the school, but this 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.