More than 90 per cent of headteachers and senior school leaders have reported experiencing challenging behaviour from parents, including rude responses and verbal abuse, according to a survey by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL).
The poll of 1,700 school leaders found that 60 per cent had received verbal abuse or threats in the past year, with over three-quarters saying the worsening parental behaviour was harming their mental health and wellbeing.
School leaders cited parents disputing sanctions such as detentions and suspensions, using social media for hostile comments, and making excessive subject access requests. Some parents have used artificial intelligence to generate lengthy, legalistic complaints, requiring more time to manage.
Jo Rowley, ASCL president and deputy headteacher, will tell the union's conference that 'a minority of parents with unreasonable expectations and short tempers are a drain on time, energy, and resources'. She urged the government to support a national campaign for parental cooperation.
Separately, Ofsted chief inspector Martyn Oliver defended the new inspection regime, saying it highlights schools where disadvantaged children are not progressing. Education secretary Bridget Phillipson called for a 'village around the child' with schools at the centre of support.
