‘No one comes to work each day to be threatened, spat on and slapped’ – Teachers speak out on the abuse and treatment they have suffered each day at a Warrington school.

Controversy circling around Woolston Brook School in Padgate began after the sudden removal of a head teacher and board of governors in December last year.

And the recent reporting of this by the Warrington Guardian has brought new claims to light about the treatment of staff at the setting, which is a specialist school for children with social, emotional and mental health needs.

A letter signed by ‘staff past and present at Woolston Brook School’ revealed shocking incidents of violence reported by staff between teachers and pupils and pupils and their peers.

The letter, addressed to education watchdogs Ofsted, pleaded for the school to have an emergency inspection.

It stated: “Over the past few years, our pupil's aggressive behaviours towards each other and to all the staff working in the school has spiralled out of control and it is not going to be long before there is a very 'serious incident.

“Day after day, staff have to deal with highly volatile and aggressive pupils' and hundreds of incidents of threats of violence and actual physical assaults have been recorded in the last two years.”

Members of staff continue, saying: “Please be assured that all staff are aware of the general difficulties of our teaching jobs, and we know that pupils with SEMH can demonstrate challenging behaviour.

“However, no-one comes to work each day to be threatened, suffer racist and/or homophobic abuse, be spat on, slapped around the back of the head in corridors, punched, kicked, headbutted, hit with implements thrown across the classroom (including chairs), and even threatened with knives.

“Staff are going home battered and bruised, and quite rightly their husbands, wives, partners often ask questions about how such physical marks (bruises to chest, arms or legs) have occurred. Some members of staff have been injured more severely and required hospital treatment and time off school.”

The letter highlighted how under the circumstances, staff feel ‘extremely anxious’ and ‘fatigued’ and not supported to carry out their jobs at the school, referring to this being an explanation of why staff and pupil attendance is ‘so very poor’.

“Staff are too scared to speak up, many of us have been forced to turn to our unions for help and advice, and both the NAS and NEU have contacted the school to advise the SLT of issues staff have and to ask for specific information regarding pupil behaviour.”

As previously reported, the head teacher, as The Guardian understands it, has been removed from the position at the school and the council have confirmed that the school are looking to find a replacement for the role currently.

An interim executive board were appointed by the Department for Education late last year to replace the board of governors too.

The letter to Ofsted concluded with: “Please help us, all we want is to come to work looking forward to our teaching day, whilst feeling relatively SAFE.”

A spokesperson for teacher’s union NASUWT commented on the ongoing situation at Woolston Brook school, having been reached out to by members of staff at the setting.

They said: “We have been aware for some time of concerns of members at Woolston Brook relating to safe systems of working and we have been seeking to support members in raising those concerns with school management. 

“Unfortunately, too many schools are failing to fulfil their duty of care to staff, as well as pupils, in tackling incidents of violence and abuse and putting in place robust and consistent measures to manage pupil behaviour.

“Teachers should expect to be safe at work and we are continuing to work with members and challenge employers to meet their responsibilities to their staff.”