Violent pupil behaviour is going “under-reported” by teachers, the leader of a teaching union has warned.

Matt Wrack, general secretary of the NASUWT, also told the media today of his concerns about content generated by AI.

“People have told me that they have been discouraged from reporting [violent] incidents, or in some cases, whether there is even a very clear mechanism for reporting incidents,” Mr Wrack said in response to a question from Tes.

Addressing journalists ahead of the union’s annual conference next month, he said: “The day-to-day incidents that happen in schools are at a shocking level, and much probably under-reported. That has surprised me.”

His comments come after a Tes investigation revealed the extent of rising pupil violence in schools.

Teacher told they ‘signed up for’ pupil violence

Behaviour is “one of the top issues” that NASUWT members are reporting concerns about, Mr Wrack said.

“From my personal experience of either speaking to people I know or visiting schools, the fact that people are facing regular physical injury in schools from pupil behaviour is alarming.

“Whether that is accurately reported is something that needs to be addressed.”

Mr Wrack told of one case where a teacher was told by their headteacher that violent behaviour was “what you signed up for”. He warned that “those sorts of attitudes certainly won’t solve the problem, but will demoralise the workforce”.

The NASUWT general secretary also voiced concerns about different approaches being taken by schools on behaviour, “some of which might be related to resources, some of which might be related to policy, and some of which might be related to consistency of applying policy”.

Earlier this year the Department for Education launched a plan for a new national framework for internal suspension.

Mr Wrack said the government was “beginning to address” what is reasonably expected of schools, students and their families.

As part of the government’s schools White Paper, the DfE will establish minimum expectations for schools to communicate with parents. It has also pledged to reform the complaints system.

‘Terrifying new frontier of digital harassment’

Mr Wrack also shared concerns about content generated by AI, saying that schools and the DfE must make sure teachers are protected.

He said: “Teachers are facing a terrifying new frontier of digital harassment. The ability to secretly record, edit or fabricate footage of staff poses a profound threat to their safety, dignity and professional standing.

“No teacher should have their reputation destroyed by a manipulated video or AI‑generated audio. Schools and the Department for Education must act now to protect teachers from this abuse.”

The NASUWT leader said he had heard from teachers who have been filmed without their consent.

“Even the possibility of manipulated content being circulated online is deeply distressing for staff,” Mr Wrack said. “This is completely unacceptable, and schools need clear powers to confiscate devices, impose sanctions and respond swiftly to digital misconduct.”

The NASUWT has previously supported the idea of a UK-wide statutory ban on mobile phones in schools and a social media ban for under-16s.

The government launched “tougher” guidance on phones in schools at the start of this year, with Ofsted due to check mobile phone policies in every inspection from next month.