The number of pupils suspended for attacks on staff in schools here more than TREBLED in the space of one year

Nov 22, 2017, 10:33 AM

We all know that teachers are under pressure in Northern Ireland with many schools struggling to cope with budget cuts. But figures show that school staff are increasingly the target of violence in the classroom. Statistics from the Department of Education reveal that the number of pupils suspended for physical violence against staff has more than trebled. The latest figures for the school year 2015/2016 show a total of 646 suspensions for assault on teaching staff - that's up from 213 the previous year. And it's a rising trend, with the number of assaults growing steadily since 2011. What's going on in our classrooms? Are children more violent? Or are teachers losing control of classes under pressure? Stephen got reaction from Kathleen O'Hare, head teacher of Hazelwood Integrated College in Newtownabbey and Justin McCamphill, of the teaching union, the NASUWT.