Eighty per cent of school leaders here say they have been abused by parents in the past year, a survey has revealed.
The poll by the NAHT revealed shocking examples of head teachers and other senior staff being targeted.
The union surveyed 1,642 school leaders across England, Wales and Northern Ireland last November.
Verbal abuse was the most common form suffered, with 88% of those polled saying they had experienced it.
This was followed by threatening behaviour (76%); online abuse (30%) and discriminatory language (21%), including racism, sexism or homophobia. Nearly one in 10 (9%) was physically attacked.
The survey exposed widespread trolling on social media and in parent groups, as well as appalling hate campaigns, harassment and intimidation.
Some school leaders said the abuse had made their lives a misery to the extent they had considered quitting the profession. It has left some suffering anxiety, depression and panic attacks.
NAHT’s Dr Graham Gault said: “These statistics paint an alarming and deeply troubling picture for schools in Northern Ireland, one that cannot be ignored.
“It is unacceptable that, as public servants dedicated to the education and well-being of children, they should be subjected to such treatment.
“Urgent action is required. We will continue to press employing authorities to take decisive steps in addressing unacceptable behaviour and violence, including online abuse, and to establish clear and robust processes for dealing with these incidents when they occur.”
Seventy-four per cent of those surveyed said abuse from parents had increased in the last three years, with 34% saying it had ‘greatly’ increased. Nobody said abuse had decreased.
Thirty-three per cent said they typically experienced abuse every term; 25% said it happened every month, and 13% said it occurred weekly. Just 27% said it was rare.
Dr Graham Gault, NAHT NI national secretary
NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman said: “The vast majority of parents are very supportive of schools and in most cases the relationship between school and home is really positive.
“However, in recent years we have heard of a worrying increase in the amount of abuse school leaders are experiencing.
“Some of the stories we are hearing about the appalling abuse leaders and their staff are suffering are almost beyond belief.
“These are dedicated professionals, who work hard day in, day out to deliver a first-rate education for children in often trying circumstances.
“No one should have to suffer this sort of abuse in their place of work. It causes enormous distress for school leaders, their staff, and sometimes pupils, and is even contributing to decisions by good people to leave the profession at a time schools are in the grip of a severe recruitment and retention crisis.
“Where parents have concerns, worries or complaints, they of course should be able to raise these with the school, but that has to be done in a respectful manner. Put simply, whatever the situation, there is never an excuse for abuse.”
In response to the abuse, 19% of principals here had banned parents from the school; 20% had reported parents to police or the local authority; 17% had reported them to the local trust; 67% had arranged a meeting with parents, while 45% had issued a warning letter or email.
Across the UK, 82% of head teachers said they had been abused by parents (verbal 85%; threatening behaviour 68%; online abuse 46%; discriminatory language 22%, and physical violence 10%).
Last week Stormont’s Department of Education revealed the number of assaults on teaching staff in schools had almost doubled (86% increase) in the last two years.
In total, 1,677 assaults were reported to the Education Authority and the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools between 2022 and 2024
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said: “The Department considers that any verbal or physical abuse within educational establishments is entirely unacceptable. All employers across the education sector fully endorse this view and advice, guidance and support on the prevention of violence at work is provided by the employers to their schools and teachers.”