United Kingdom: A growing wave of misogyny and racism is sweeping through UK schools, fuelled by the online influence of controversial figures like Donald Trump and Andrew Tate, teachers have warned.
According to a new survey by the NASUWT teaching union, social media and online gaming platforms are significantly shaping pupil behaviour, with female teachers facing the brunt of abuse. Teachers say pupils are increasingly reflecting the rhetoric of online personalities, making sexist, racist, homophobic, and transphobic remarks with little regard for consequences.
One of the teachers stated that, “A lot of the students are impacted by Tate and Trump. They spout hateful comments in every conversation and don’t believe there will be consequences.”
Two-thirds of teachers surveyed named social media as the primary driver behind rising pupil misbehaviour. The union’s general secretary, Patrick Roach remarked that, “We now need a strategy to tackle what has become a national emergency.”
The conference heard shocking testimony from staff, including a primary teacher who said 10-year-old boys refused to speak to her because she was a woman. Others described students barking at female staff, blocking doorways, and consuming violent, extreme pornography online.
Concerns were also raised about the growing number of parents who reject school rules and display hostility or even violence when discussing their children’s behaviour with teachers. Roach warned that simply restricting mobile phone use during school hours will not be enough. Roach commented that, “We’ve had positive discussions with ministers, but more must be done.”
In response, a Department for Education spokesperson said the government was taking action to protect children online and help schools build resilience to extremism. The Liberal Democrats echoed the call for stronger safeguards, with education spokesperson Munira Wilson warning that ‘toxic algorithms are pushing children into dark corners of the internet.’
The NASUWT conference also heard calls for tougher action on parental responsibility. Delegate Lindsay Hanger said behaviour issues were being tolerated to meet attendance targets and avoid exclusions. She called on the government to ensure all parents are held accountable for upholding school behaviour standards.
In other developments, the union voted to oppose ‘no exclusion’ policies and backed potential strike action if teacher pay recommendations are not met. Roach said the union would ballot members for a formal strike if the government failed to honour above-inflation pay rise proposals.
Delegates also voted against a potential merger with the National Education Union (NEU), with concerns over growing links with more leftwing unions.
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