Increasing attacks on principals at school as violence and workload take a heavy toll on their health

SCHOOL principals are being attacked in their schools more than eight times the rate for the general population taking a “disturbing toll” on their health, a shocking new study has found.

SCHOOL principals are being attacked in their schools more than eight times the rate for the general population taking a “disturbing toll” on their health, a shocking new study has found.

More than a third of school leaders say they have suffered physical violence _ often at the hands of parents _ and many others subjected to threats, bullying, sexual harassment and other conflict, researchers reveal.

The nation’s largest survey of school principals found excessive workload and increasing numbers of students with mental health problems also are helping to burn out hundreds of educators running government, Catholic and independent schools.

Associate Professor Philip Riley, who authored the report, said violence is mostly by parents and students.

Author of the Principal Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing Survey Associate Professor Phil Riley of Australian Catholic University said school leaders reported being “king hit” by enraged parents.

“In one anecdote a principal said that every time he walked past a particular spot in his school (where an attack happened) it sent shivers down his spine,” Prof Riley said.

“The violence is by parents and students mostly … but bullying also is increasing internally within schools between staff,” he said.

Prof Riley said a new independent authority should investigate bullying and violence against principals and president of the NSW Secondary Principals’ Council Chris Presland called for a public awareness campaign.

“Principals are an easy target for frustrated and angry people _ this continuing trend of aggression directed at principals is unacceptable,” Mr Presland said.

“We have a deeper problem as a society in how to deal with frustration, not by yelling abuse or belting the nearest person who is an authority figure.”

The annual study which surveyed 2764 school leaders nationally found NSW principals had the highest rate of burnout in the country as student results in many key subjects went backwards.

Principals report long hours, soaring levels of sleeping troubles, depressive symptoms and stress affecting their ability to run their school effectively.

A separate survey of public school teachers in 2016 found 40 per cent had witnessed bullying at work in the past 12 months and 22 percent had been subjected to bullying.

The NSW Teachers’ Federation last year reported a 32.5 per cent increase in workers’ compensation claims for psychological injuries and a 71.5 per cent rise in the cost of claims.

“A significant component of these claims cite bullying, harassment and bullying in the workplace as the cause of the injury,” the report said.

Federal education Minister Simon Birmingham said yesterday: “It’s appalling to hear what some of our fantastic teachers and school leaders face in the workplace and it’s totally unacceptable.

“The Turnbull Government is boosting funding for schools by $25.3 billion, meaning school systems can provide more support for programs and interventions to tackle issues like these.”

More than a third of school leaders say they have suffered physical violence, often at the hands of parents, and many others were subjected to threats, bullying, sexual harassment and other conflict.

The nat­ion’s largest survey of school principals found ­excessive workload and increasing numbers of students with mental health problems also are helping to burn out hundreds of educators running government, Catholic and independent schools.

A spokesman for the NSW Department of Education said an extra $50 million had been allocated to “free up principals from work that takes them away from school leadership”, and provide other support.

“The wellbeing and welfare of all principals is of paramount importance to the department.”