Teacher bullying

Generally speaking, teachers do a good job, often under stressful circumstances, so when your child complains they are being bullied by a teacher it's worth considering what might be behind it.

Possible reasons for conflict

Could your child be misbehaving in class? Is your child misinterpreting the teacher's actions? Is this the only teacher your child complains about?	Is the teacher trying to get him/her to produce better work? Is the teacher unaware of personal circumstances in your family where jokes which might be inoffensive to most people upset your child?

Make some discreet inquiries among the parents of your child's friends. Overt unpleasant remarks are likely to be remembered by other children and reported to their parents. If other parents also have concerns about the way their children are treated then that might indicate a problem.

Discuss with your child what sort of remarks are made and in what circumstances. If your child is being criticised for not completing work but is finding the work difficult then a simple call to the head of year or a note to the teacher explaining the situation and asking for help should resolve the problem.

We have had complaints that teachers have been tearing up pupils' work in front of them and shouting at them. This is unacceptable and parents need to make written complaints to the head teacher in these instances, and then to the governors if the problem continues, particularly if as far as you are aware your child has never had a problem with any other teacher.

How to resolve the problemAn informal approach to the head of year would be a good start but you must be prepared not to like the response if your child's behaviour is an issue. Bullying UK gets many complaints about teacher bullying accompanied by remarks like "I know my son's no angel" or "my daughter only refused to do as the teacher asked because she thought it was unfair". If a child is defiant and answers back then teachers are not going to accept that, and rightly so.

Bullying UK will always support teachers who crack down on bad behaviour in the classroom.

If you feel you have a genuine concern and the head of year hasn't been able to resolve it then make a complaint to the head teacher and if that isn't successful to the governors.

However, it's much better to try to sort the problem out diplomatically at a much earlier stage because your child is likely to have contact with a teacher over a number of years.

Contact us on help@bullying.co.uk if you need more help.

Other pages in this sectionBullying policies / Role of the DCSF / Is my child being bullied? / School bus bullies
Practical help with racism / Dealing with racism / How does bullying make a child feel? / Dealing with a younger bully
Adults' survey results / Teachers' survey results / Contacting the school / Access to pupil records
Contacting the Governors and LEAa / Is my child a bully? / Who can help on racism / Parents' problem page
If your child is bullying others / Do you share blame? / Dealing with an older bully / Teacher bullying
Home schooling / Bullying in sport / Parents' panel - Have your say / Parents' survey results
Moving your child to a new school / Pupils' survey results / Taking legal action / Bullying outside school
Independent and private schools / Model letters to help your complaint / National Bullying Survey 2006