Survey Reveals Escalating Abuse of School Leaders by Parents

A majority of school leaders report verbal, physical, and online abuse, prompting calls for government action and stricter policies.

A poll of over 1,600 school leaders found that 82% experienced abuse from parents in the past year, with 86% reporting a rise in incidents over the last three years.
Verbal abuse was the most common form, affecting 85% of respondents, followed by threatening behavior (68%), online harassment (46%), and physical violence (10%).
Nearly a third of school leaders reported parents to the police, while 42% banned parents from school premises due to harassment or threats.
Experts attribute the rise in abuse to the proliferation of social media platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook, which have been linked to hate campaigns and trolling.
The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) is urging the government to review complaints procedures and take stronger action to protect educators from abusive behavior.