How can I ensure my safety when teaching in the classroom?

Although the number of reports of violence and aggression has risen, there is a lot you can do to avoid risk to yourself and to increase your confidence in dealing with threatening situations.

If you are confident and streetwise, you will also be able to provide your pupils with a good role model, and encourage them to look out for each other.

The most important thing when working alone is to ensure that people know where you are. If you are alone in the classroom at unusual times - for example during a detention, or if you want to catch up on marking after classes have ended – try to let a colleague know in advance.

If your classroom is far away from the main building, see if you can obtain a pager, alarm or other security device.

If you have control over the set-up of your classroom, make sure your desk is near the exit so you can escape easily if you are in trouble. Are there any other ways in which to make your classroom a safer place to work?

If you are teaching with a class or pupil known to be difficult or abusive, see if you can arrange for a colleague to meet you after the class has ended.

How can I improve my own personal safety?

Although there are more reports of violence and attacks both at work and on the streets, there is a lot you can do to avoid risk to yourself and to increase your confidence in dealing with threatening situations. 

If you are confident and streetwise, you will also be able to help your pupils by providing them with a good role model in yourself, and encouraging them to look out for each other.

The key areas to focus on when thinking about personal safety are as follows.

  • Increasing your confidence: confident people are less likely to be attacked. You can learn how to appear to be and how to actually be more confident through improving your communication skills and your assertiveness, or through learning a form of self-defence.
  • Keeping fit is also an excellent way to improve your confidence, as it facilitates greater awareness of your body’s capabilities and thereby increases confidence in your ability to stand up for yourself, or to escape from a dangerous situation.
  • Avoiding risks: if you are out and about during school time always inform a colleague of your whereabouts and how long you expect to be out. Make sure you plan any routes in advance. If you are travelling in the dark, make sure that you think about possible risks. For example, will you find yourself waiting alone in an empty bus station? If so, is there an alternative route you can take?
  • If you do find yourself in a potentially threatening situation, try to avoid confrontation if at all possible.
  • Accept that it is normal to feel fear in response to potentially dangerous situations. The physiological changes that occur in your body when you are afraid are designed to equip you to deal with danger – these include heightened visual awareness and a rush of adrenalin to help your muscles work more effectively. It is important that you trust your intuition – don't ignore fear.
  • If you are in danger, get away immediately. This may mean running, or it may mean seeking shelter in a ‘safe place’ such as a shop, leisure centre or library.
  • Remember that the police are there to protect you. Dial 999 if you need help, or if you see someone else who needs help.   

Teachers mostly work alone and often travel to and from school alone. You can check out the Suzy Lamplugh Trust website to find out how to ensure your own personal safety.

Help and support

For further advice on this issue, ATL members can speak to their school rep, their branch secretary or their regional official. They can also call the London (020 7930 6441), Cardiff (029 2046 5000), Belfast (028 9078 2020) or Edinburgh (0131 272 2748) offices or email info@atl.org.uk

For out of hours enquiries, call the out of office hours helpline on 020 7782 1612 (Monday-Friday, 5-8pm during term time).

If you are not a member, join now.

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