More than one in 10 teaching support staff say they have experienced sexually inappropriate behaviour from pupils, according to a leading union. The finding has triggered calls for schools to adopt “zero tolerance” to a problem that, the GMB says, can leave its members mentally scarred.
A survey by the union, which this week holds its 101st annual congress, said 11% of classroom-based staff had encountered such behaviour.
The survey, the most comprehensive of its kind, is further evidence of what some are calling an “epidemic of abuse” in Britain’s schools. The NASUWT union recently reported that one in five teachers said they had been sexually harassed at school by a colleague, manager, parent or pupil.
In the GMB survey, which focuses specifically on pupil abuse of school employees, staff said abuse took the form of verbal comments, innuendo, inappropriate touching and the taking of inappropriate photographs.
“Our members enjoy positive, professional relationships with the vast majority of pupils, and are dedicated to supporting children and young people,” said Karen Leonard, GMB national officer. “However, some tell us that an unacceptable proportion of students use inappropriate language to each other and to staff regularly. No one should have to put up with being sexually abused at work – and that includes our members in schools.”
Much of the abuse appears to be facilitated by technology. GMB members said that pupils used their smartphones to take inappropriate pictures of female staff – a practice sometimes known as “upskirting” or “down blousing”.
More than 4,600 school support staff responded to the question “Have you experienced sexually inappropriate behaviour from pupils?”. More than 10.5% said they had. The use of inappropriate and sexually suggestive terms by pupils to staff includes calling them “babe”, “beautiful”, “my milf”, “prostitute” and “pervert”.
Female staff reported that male pupils urge them to perform sexual acts, smack them on their behinds or touch their breasts. Boys would also expose themselves and masturbate in class.
“These testimonies from our dedicated school staff make very tough reading and bring home the difficult situations many of our teaching assistants, school administrators, lunchtime supervisors and others experience every day,” Leonard said.
“It’s not surprising many are left stressed, intimidated and even with mental scars. But schools must make sure they have proper policies, guidelines and principles for when these incidents do take place. GMB demands a zero-tolerance approach, with proper, reliable support systems for those who do experience it.”
In Scotland, MSPs have discussed banning the use of mobile phones in schools as the only way to tackle the epidemic of boys taking sexual pictures of women teachers and schoolgirls without their knowledge or consent. Some have suggested that the UK introduce a French-style ban, where children are allowed to bring phones, but are barred from using them in school time.