Education: The teacher who pulled the knife on him gives a warning.

A teacher who had a knife pulled by a student says it’s the worst classroom behavior she’s had in 20 years of teaching.

It comes as the teaching union, NASUWT, says a “significant increase” in poor learning behavior in recent years has left some of its members worried about going to work.

The latest annual figures show that school leaving has hit record levels across Wales across all measures.

The Welsh Government said any form of violence or abuse against staff or pupils was “totally unacceptable” and was considering suggestions to improve behaviour.

“Attitudes have become disconnected over the last 20 years, you’re verbally abused on a daily basis,” Steve Mitchell said. BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

“I had a knife pulled on me in a class, I completely ignored the youth.”

According to school census data for the 2022-23 school year, there were more than 30,000 exclusions for less than five days.

The main reasons were verbal abuse, threats to staff and persistent disruptive behaviour, with the highest rates in Blaenau Gwent, Torfan and Denbighshire.

The figures were also higher for students with additional learning needs, including those with attention deficit disorder.

Mr Mitchell said the problem came down to poor funding and a lack of specialist schools, with pupils with additional learning needs being placed in mainstream schools and other learners being disrupted.

He also put down some poor attitudes to the Covid-19 pandemic, suggesting that children did not want to return to the structure, so standards changed as a result.

“Kids have lost a lot of their socialization skills. They don’t want to be there, it’s an uphill battle,” he said.

Mr. Mitchell added that parents also play a role in this disorder.

“You are fighting on two fronts – the children and the parents.

“Teachers are leaving the profession and are not being replaced.”

The NASUWT union said some of its members suffered “verbal abuse, violence and aggression” from pupils.

The union’s policy officer, Sion Emlin, said the figures were not surprising, adding: “Our members are naturally worried about what’s going to happen going into their work.

“It shouldn’t be like this. You should be allowed to go to work, do an honest day’s work, and come home to your family without something horrible happening.”

The Welsh Government said any form of violence or abuse against staff or pupils was “totally unacceptable” and the ban should only be used as a “last resort”.

“Schools must be safe places for learners and staff and all education settings in Wales have a legal duty to provide a safe learning environment,” she said.

“We are working with partners to develop proposals to improve behavior, possibly including holding a summit next year.”

Additional reporting by Ben Dean Smith