The concerning finding has come from a poll of almost 15,000 UNISON members working in schools across the UK.
The survey report, entitled Bad Form: Behaviour in Schools, also reveals that 76 per cent of teaching assistants have seen violent behaviour at their schools within the last 12 months, with 53 per cent having experienced physical violence themselves.
Support staff included in UNISON’s survey range from school business managers, technicians and librarians to teaching assistants, admin workers, cleaners and catering staff.
It is teaching assistants that bear the brunt of violent behaviour, according to the findings, with UNISON members reporting a barrage of verbal threats and abuse – mostly from pupils (98 per cent), but some from parents (five per cent).
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