The primary reason for suspensions from school in Rotherham is now physical and verbal abuse of staff, according to an exclusive Freedom of Information request.

Between September 2023 and October 2024, 864 pupils have been suspended from schools in Rotherham for ‘verbal threat/ abuse of an adult’.   

NASUWT (The Teachers Union) General Secretary Dr Patrick Roach said: “We have been witnessing a growing crisis in anti-social behaviour and violence in schools which has worsened considerably since the pandemic.

“The lack of appropriate in-school support and long waiting lists to access specialist services are contributing to a behaviour crisis which schools are struggling to contain.

“No teacher should expect to go to work and be punched, kicked or spat at. However, many teachers tell us they live in fear of violence and abuse.”

This has changed from previous years, as in 2018 and 2019 the main reason for school suspensions was verbal abuse/ threat of other children.

Some of these individuals have faced multiple suspensions, with the total number of suspensions for abuse of adults being 1460.

The number of students suspended from schools across England has been steadily increasing since 2015 (excluding years impacted by the pandemic).

The 2022/23 data shows that 786,961 students have been suspended from schools in England, which is up from 578,280 in 2021/22.

NASUWT noted a decline in students’ behaviour towards teachers and school staff, so launched their ‘better deal on behaviour’ campaign.

A 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.

Some of the key findings over the last 12 months include:

• 37% of respondents have experienced physical abuse or violence from pupils in the last 12 months.
• 90% report verbal abuse or violence from pupils.
• 89% feel the number of pupils exhibiting violent and abusive behaviours has increased.
• 93% say the number of pupils verbally abusing staff members has increased.

Dr Patrick Roach said: “Instead of giving support to the classroom, teachers are being blamed for poor pupil behaviour whilst many employers fail to act to ensure the health, safety and welfare of staff working in schools.

“Failure to tackle violence and abuse in schools will have long-lasting consequences for teacher recruitment and retention and for the education of children and young people.“

The Teachers Union will represent teachers and school leaders when they feel school practices fall short of the standards of behaviour that teachers can ‘reasonably expect.’

For more information or resources about dealing with explosive or abusive behaviour from pupils, head to the NASUWT website.

To read our article about the ‘growing crisis’ in schoolchildren’s behaviour across South Yorkshire, click here.