School report: 500 pupil attacks in Bradford in 18 months alone

MORE than 500 attacks were carried out by pupils on teaching assistants and support staff in Bradford primary schools and special schools in the past 18 months, it was revealed today.

The statistics, obtained by the GMB union, have led to councils being urged to publish figures showing the number of assaults against school support workers across the country.

The union said the figures were "shocking", especially involving young children, and called for urgent action to tackle the problem.

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Incidents included biting, kicking, headbutting, chairs being thrown and staff stabbed with pencils.

"There is a hidden epidemic of violence in our schools which is not being dealt with. The problem appears to be getting worse," said Neil Derrick, a GMB official from Yorkshire.

Speaking at the union's annual conference in Southport, he said the severity of the violence had shocked staff and union officials.

"The lack of any attempt to deal with this problem has also surprised us. The problem is far worse in secondary schools."

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The GMB called for councils to publish figures for verbal and physical attacks in all schools across the country to show the scale of the problem.

Ray Alderman, a delegate from Bradford, told the conference: "People don't go to work to be attacked - it is totally unacceptable. We want the Government to pressurise local authorities to offer better support to our members and to work to reduce them in the first place."