Secondary School Teachers' Experience and Perceptions of Violence in the Workplace, 2007-2008

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.This is a mixed methods data collection. This study combined focus group and individual teachers' interviews with a postal survey questionnaire sent to Secondary School Teachers and NUT members in North London, Hertfordhsire and Essex. Teachers' experience of workplace violence has received relatively little attention both in the workplace violence literature and other research related to school violence most of which focuses on pupil to pupil violence. Quantitative data suggests that levels of violence against teachers are on the increase but little is known about the effect that this violence is having on the daily work life of teachers. The aim of the study was not only to establish the extent of violence occurring among teachers but also to examine what types of ‘violent’ incidents they experience including verbal and physical attacks. It identified the concerns that teachers have about the risks they face in their day to day role and how it affects them and examined how schools are dealing with these issues, by looking at what polices and strategies are in place to help teachers who experience violence. The study also examined teachers' views on the 2008 attempts by the government to change discipline policies within education. Further information on the project can be found on the ESRC's Secondary School Teachers' Experiences and Perceptions of Violence in the Workplace award webpage.Main Topics:Secondary school teachers' experience of violence in the workplace, including an examination of experience, perceptions of risk, support isses and the response of management to such incidents. Exploration of current policies to deal with such issues in school. Examination of training needs.