Security Concerns Increasing in Schools in England
According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Education in England, only two out of five children in the country feel safe at school. Teachers have reported an increase in violence and harassment towards school staff and other students day by day.
After an incident in a state school in Carmarthenshire, where a student was accused of stabbing another student and two teachers, leading to three charges of attempted murder, incidents involving weapons in schools have come back into focus. When students were asked how often they felt safe at school, only 39% said they felt safe every day over the previous week. In contrast, 69% of directors and senior staff stated their schools were safe every day. Similarly, 35% of middle school directors reported their schools were "calm and orderly" every day of the previous week, while only 16% of middle school teachers and 13% of students felt the school environment was safe.
Pepe Di’Iasio, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, commented, “The vast majority of students behave well, and schools overwhelmingly remain safe and positive environments. However, there has been an increase in poor behavior among a minority of students, which poses a challenge for school leaders and teachers.” Di’Iasio highlighted the impact of disruptions caused by the pandemic, noting that ongoing difficulties in supporting students with special educational needs also contribute to the security issues in schools.
Many teachers in England have noted a significant change in student behavior and attitudes since Covid, while some have expressed concerns that these issues have worsened in the current school year. Officials from the Ministry of Education have stated they are collaborating with school leaders and teachers to ensure that schools remain calm and safe environments. The ministry also aims to provide support to approximately 700 schools over three years as part of its behavior improvement program, which includes banning mobile phones in schools to reduce disruptions.