UK teachers report rise in problem parents

[Tabitha005]

Rude and disrespectful parents were a big issue when I worked in education ten years ago and, from this article, it seems to be an increasing concern.

Who’d be a teacher, eh? The shit they have to put up with is awful.

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/mar/13/teachers-mental-heath-parents-behaviour-education

We had similar: "Oh, he won't go to bed when I tell him."

Schools and teachers have no issue with polite, reasonable and evidence-based enquiries or feedback, given at an appropriate time and in an appropriate manner.

However much schools ask of parents, there is no excuse, ever, for the type of verbal, physical, in person and online threat and abuse that is now a commonplace and everyday experience for schools.

A suggestion that could be ignored, presumably.

Of course it's a two-way street. But schools don't send you rude emails at 11pm on a Friday night demanding an instant reply, telling you what a horrible and cruel person you are. That particular email my DP received was for daring to tell a child off for refusing to stay in their seat while he was trying to teach the rest of the class maths.

It's not the parental involvement that's the issue – it's the way parents think they are now entitled to talk to teachers, like they are shit on their shoes.

But schools are sending parents constant messages and emails, expecting parents to pay additional fees, and take part in more and more activities.

I am not saying that excuses bad behaviour on the part of some parents but part of the problem is that the boundary between schools and parents has broken down, and a lot of parents do feel a higher level of entitlement because they are expected to invest more in myriad ways. I would personally struggle with the constant messages and emails that some of my friends receive from their children’s schools - it’s all way too much.

One of the reasons schools are increasingly coming across frustrated parents is because schools are placing increasing levels of pressure on parents to cover various shortfalls.

What would you demand? FWIW, I gave a lot of time to my sons’ primary, while also working. I demanded zero back.

And one that shouldn't have been made and woukdn't have been made if there were any respect for parents.

Yes - as I said much earlier in the thread, some of this behaviour, on both sides, reflects the fact that this is the front line of a failing system.

Abuse - verbal, physical , online or in person - is no more appropriate a response than the treatment meted out to GP receptionists, again the ‘public facing’ front line of a system that cannot meet its users’ wants.

Frustration, in both teachers and parents, is understandable. Its presentation as abuse is not.

The stark difference is your friends can pick and choose which of those messages they ignore. A parent can send a rude and aggressive email to a teacher and they HAVE to respond.

I have to say, it's a shame this thread that started as a space for teachers to have their say has been hijacked by parents basically saying they are entitled to be entitled.

It's not schools, i.e. teachers, that want this. Ofsted expects evidence of the school involving parents

I would also say - in response to messages from schools vs messages from parents - that I have never seen an abusive message sent by a school.

I have received abusive messages from parents, frequently.

Quantity is annoying, abuse is damaging. Threats are scary, for those of us who often work alone, with our doors open at the end of thr day.

Good for you. I tend to expect something in return when demands are made of my time, money and energy.

But your child gets an education?

I think it’s quite disingenuous to say that someone can just ignore messages. The point is the quantity of communications from schools are often frustrating and in some cases upsetting for a lot of parents. Would you accept receiving constant messages from any other organisation asking for your time, money and energy week after week?

That’s what I’m asking. What do you expect in return?

You know what, this is another thread topic altogether, so why don't you go and start one if you feel that strongly, instead of basically telling teachers on this thread that they need to suck up being abused because parents are fed up being asked to bring some fairy cakes in for the bake sale.

I am not a teacher but I coach at my local rowing club where we have a large juniors section and some of the parents are just incredibly disrespectful and rude. Very late pick ups meaning coaches have to stay behind to look after their kids, zero apologies. Demands that their kids are selected in the top boats despite not having the skills. Telling coaches their jobs after watching a few YouTube videos. Demanding weekly written reports on their kids progress. Etc. We are volunteers with day jobs and you get treated like shit.

Hi, you obviously have a problem with “state” schools”, can I ask why? My two sons went to “state” schools at both primary and secondary levels. Both have professional qualifications, good jobs and salaries and (unlike the mantra on here) my youngest bought his own home when he was 23.

I don’t understand why people think teachers should have to put up with violence (both verbal and physical) from people they are providing an important service to.

I don’t disagree with you, it’s just about making up for the government’s failings. But it is the reason for the rising levels of entitlement unfortunately.

I haven’t “basically” told anyone anything. And diminishing it as “just bringing in some fairy cakes” is part of the problem. And a poster started a thread topic and I am responding to it - that’s just as much my right as it is yours.

I would say it depends on the amount of time/energy/money expected. I just think it’s no wonder certain parents have started thinking they can tell teachers/schools what to do, how to do it, how to discipline their child etc. because they now see the education system as being open for negotiation. The school is open to them now in many different ways, whereas in the past parents were, on the whole, not invited to become involved at all.

You are saying/implying in your comments that because parents are being asked to be more involved with schools through volunteering and contributions – both things they have free will to say no to – they are entitled to behave with entitlement towards teachers, even if that means the teachers being on the receiving end of abuse.

It's an abhorrent opinion, frankly.

I did not say or imply that in the slightest. I find it quite worrying that threads like this always seem to descend so quickly.

And I would not accept receiving constant messages asking for my time/money/energy from any other state institution so why should the education system be any different? I don’t get messages from my local hospital asking me for those things. Schools should be pushing back against that pressure from government, not passing it down the line to parents.

I’m 62. My sons are 34 and 30. I gave loads of my time to their schools and enjoyed every minute of it and never once abused a member of staff or was abused by one.

It’s not new giving time to your child’s school. What IS new is teachers getting treated like employees of the parents.