Teachers have considered self-harming or quit the profession because of bullying by colleagues, new research suggests.

Data from the NASUWT reveals four in five teachers have been bullied in the past year.

The teaching union says bullying in the workplace is ruining the lives of teachers – leaving many feeling depressed, anxious, lacking confidence and having to medical help or turning to drugs and alcohol to help them cope.

A survey of 1,995 teachers found that 80% had been the victim of bullying in the last year.

The majority of cases involved bullying by headteachers, senior leaders or line managers.

Four in five said they had suffered anxiety as a result of bullying, the survey found.

One teacher said: “It has been horrific. I genuinely thought about harming myself so I wouldn’t have to attend work.”

Another said: “I have put up with bullying for the last two years and you have to be incredibly strong to keep going in each day and continually take what is thrown at you.

“Education is a nasty, back-stabbing, cruel place to work.”

Nearly half of those surveyed (45%) had visited their GP to cope with the bullying, while 18% said they had turned to prescribed drugs and 17% had used alcohol.

More than half (52%) had experienced depression because of bullying, with 41% saying it had affected their ability to deliver high-quality lessons.

The bullying ranged from shouting and verbal abuse, to having their work criticised in front of others.

Chris Keates, NASUWT general secretary, said: “Evidence of bullying is alarmingly prevalent in schools and colleges.

“While there are many schools that treat their staff with courtesy and respect, teachers tell us that in too many a culture of bullying and abuse of teachers is far too common.

“Bullying is destroying many teachers’ physical and mental health, and driving some teachers from their schools or the profession entirely.”

A spokeswoman for the Department of Education said: “No teacher should face bullying or ill-treatment in the workplace, and schools have a duty to protect their staff.

“Our Teacher Recruitment and Retention Strategy, launched in January, focuses on the wellbeing of school and college staff and in particular the importance of developing supportive cultures.

“Employers have a legal duty to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees, which includes minimising the risk of stress-related illness.”

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