Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what data his Department holds on the number of incidents of violence, verbal threats and aggression towards (a) headteachers, (b) teachers, and (c) teaching staff at primary schools have been reported in Preston and Lancashire over the last three years; and what steps have been taken to tackle the levels of violent incidents and abuse experienced by educators.

The department does not hold information on the number of incidents of violence, verbal threats and aggression towards headteachers, teachers and teaching staff in primary schools. Data is collected on the number of exclusions and suspensions where the reason given is ‘Physical assault against an adult’ or ‘Verbal abuse or threatening behaviour against an adult’. Data for Lancashire, for the three most recent years for which this data is available, can be found at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/21bc45ac-5922-46f9-9ed1-33bd9c534a28

Schools have a duty and a responsibility to protect pupils and staff from violent incidents and abuse. The government supports schools with a range of guidance to help them fulfil their responsibilities, including advice on health and safety, school security and targeted advice on gangs and youth violence. In addition, the department is clear that teachers should not be subjected to any form of abuse simply for doing their jobs, and that any form of violence in school is completely unacceptable and should not be tolerated. While the department expects schools to take immediate and robust action if incidents of violence occur, any decision on how to issue sanctions that address misbehaviour is a matter for the school to decide. Should the incident constitute a criminal offence, the school should report it to the police.

We will shortly be publishing the updated Behaviour in Schools guidance. This will advise schools on how they can build a positive behaviour culture through a whole-school approach, to help schools create calm, safe and supportive environments.

We are also publishing the updated Searching, Screening and Confiscation guidance to provide a clear process for staff to follow through various stages of searching and screening, while still enabling pupils to express any concerns that may arise.