Number of UK teachers facing online abuse rises sharply in past year

The number of British teachers facing abuse on social media from parents as well as pupils has risen sharply in the past 12 months, it has been suggested.

School staff are being confronted with sexist, racist, and homophobic remarks, as well as offensive comments about their appearance, competence in the classroom, and malicious slurs, according to teachers’ union Nasuwt.

In one case, a photo of a teacher was posted online with the word “bitch” underneath, while in another, pupils used the name of a heavily-pregnant school worker to post insults, the teaching union said. There were also examples of parents hurling abuse through social media, including personal comments about teachers or their families.