Heads warn of visitor violence

The NAHT has tried to highlight the issue of abusive visitors

Thousands of schools are to display posters warning against abusive or violent behaviour by visitors.

The National Association of Head Teachers has sent the posters to around 30,000 schools.

The NAHT, the largest head teachers' union, says they are meant "as a reassurance to staff and pupils that their schools are safe places to work".

And the posters warn that visitors who are abusive are likely to be removed and prosecuted.

'Not tolerated'

The posters are the latest attempt by the union to highlight the problem of visitors who are aggressive to school staff and to warn of its consequences.

The text of the poster says the safety and security of staff, pupils and visitors is the school's highest priority.

"Nowhere in this school will we tolerate violent or abusive behaviour," it says.

"Visitors behaving in this way are likely to be removed from the premises and prosecuted."

Earlier this year, the union warned that heads were increasingly being abused, threatened and assaulted by parents.

In a single month, the NAHT says five head teachers were attacked by parents, while 10 were threatened by them.

The union has called for pupils to be expelled over the behaviour of their parents.