Revealed: Dozens of teachers attacked at Wolverhampton schools

Twenty-four primary school teachers were attacked and eight secondary school staff, according to a Freedom of Information request to Wolverhampton council.

The incidents, which included physical assaults, threatening behaviour and verbal abuse, took place between September 1, 2014 and August 31, 2015.

In primary schools there were 17 physical assaults, four incidences of threatening behaviour and three of verbal abuse.

In secondary schools there were four physical assaults and two occasions of verbal abuse, while there were also two physical assaults recorded at an academy school.

Paul Brown, from Wolverhampton council said: "We take the welfare of staff working in our schools very seriously, and just one attack on a teacher is one too many.

"All schools have a behaviour policy, which is regularly reviewed, and behaviour support plans are put in place for individual pupils as appropriate, and dependant on any risk they may be deemed to pose, either to fellow pupils or teachers.

"In the event that an employee is assaulted, they would receive the full support of the school and offered counselling if required.

"A full investigation would also be carried out, involving the police where necessary."

Figures reported in 2014 revealed that in Wolverhampton, there were 78 reports of attacks on staff at city schools between April 2011 and July 2013, with 14 incidents at secondary schools, 52 in primary schools, four in junior schools and eight in infant schools.

Reports ranged from verbal abuse and spitting to 'threatening' behaviour, punching and kicking.

In the 2012-13 school year, 11 pupils were excluded for attacking staff for between one day and six days. Five pupils were given exclusions for their behaviour in the 2011-12 school year, which lasted between two and five days.