Female teachers in UK schools are facing rising levels of misogynistic abuse from pupils, leaving many feeling 'traumatised' and 'humiliated', according to a new survey by the NASUWT teachers' union. Almost a quarter of female teachers surveyed said they had been targeted by misogyny from a student in the past year, the highest proportion in four years.
The poll of 5,000 teachers found that 23.4% reported experiencing misogyny in 2025, up from 17.4% in 2023. Incidents included being called a 'fucking slag', having nude AI images made of them, and boys joking about rape. One teacher said she was told to 'work in a fucking nursery' by a parent when she complained.
NASUWT general secretary Matt Wrack warned of a 'ticking timebomb' and called for mandatory training to help teachers deal with behaviour rooted in online radicalisation. 'Over 70% of the teaching profession is female. If female teachers are reporting that they cannot contain gender-based aggression in their classrooms... then we have a ticking timebomb on our hands,' he said.
The issue has been linked to extreme online content, with the National Education Union also highlighting the role of social media algorithms. Daniel Kebede, NEU general secretary, said: 'Addictive social media algorithms are feeding our children harmful content on a daily basis.' The problem has gained national attention through Louis Theroux's documentary Inside the Manosphere and the drama Adolescence.
Teachers described being ignored, mocked, and patronised, including being called 'love' and told to 'calm down'. Many felt management did not take the issue seriously. Rebecca Hitchen of the End Violence Against Women Coalition called for stronger sanctions on tech companies. The NASUWT will debate the issue at its annual conference in Birmingham on Saturday.
