School assaults force nearly 400 staff to take leave in 2024

Sophie Cole: 'It was bad enough to suffer a life-changing injury but it was all the parts that followed were just so heartbreaking.' Picture: Dan Linehan

Some 396 school staff were left unable to perform their duties last year due to a physical injury they suffered in the classroom or on school grounds.

Figures released to the Irish Examiner show that more than 1,300 teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) have taken assault leave since 2020 after sustaining a physical injury during their course of their duties.