THE number of teachers being verbally abused is on the increase, a survey by the NASUWT has found.

Poor pupil behaviour is also causing concerns among teachers, the union found.

Nearly three quarters of teachers who responded to the union’s annual Big Question survey think there is a widespread behaviour problem in schools today, a five per cent increase on the 2014 survey.

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The poll also found that 42 per cent believe there is a behaviour problem in their schools, a five per cent increase on the 2014 survey.

The figures have been backed up by the National Union of Teachers in Lancashire, which has said that it’s not surprised that teachers are reporting these issues.

Xavier Bowers, headteacher at Mount Carmel RC High School in Accrington, said that most teachers would agree that there has been an increase in low level disruption in the classroom but stopped short of saying that there has been an increase in verbal abuse.

More than four out of five teachers say they have been subject to verbal abuse by a pupil in the last 12 months, an increase of 30 per cent on the 2014 survey.

Nearly a quarter have received threats of physical assault by a pupil, up 10 per cent on the last survey, and 16 per cent have actually been assaulted by a pupil in the last year, a rise of seven per cent on the previous survey.

Simon Jones, who represents Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen for the NUT, said: “I’m not surprised that these figures have come to light.

“The impact of the austerity measures have meant that there have been cuts to education and the curriculum has been narrowed which means that more pressure has been put on teachers and children alike. Subjects such as drama and art have been squeezed at the expense of others and that has put a lot of children off.

“Also we have found that children do not believe that if they do well at school that it will be a certainty that they will get a good job at the end of it.

“This is a problem in Lancashire as it is across the rest of the country.”

Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, said: “These statistics show a widespread and increasing problem of pupil indiscipline.

“The coalition talked tough about supporting teachers, yet on its watch the problems have increased.”