SECONDARY school headteachers in Carmarthenshire have signed an open letter highlighting the abuse and ‘detrimental behaviour’ of pupils across the county - urging parents to speak to their children.

The letter – signed by 10 school headteachers - highlights how the covid pandemic has been challenging for everyone, and says there has been an increased burden and pressure on learners, staff and families.

The letter says that there has been an increase in certain behaviours during the September 2021-April 2022 period, which is the longest schools have been open for face-to-face teaching since the pandemic began.

Behaviours highlighted include an increase in ‘inappropriate use of social media’ which includes ‘threatening, abusive and harassing behaviour,’ an increase in pupils vaping in school, graffiti, property damage and vandalism and abusive language directed at staff and pupils.

The letter says “all the points noted above, not only impact young people’s health, wellbeing and education, but they could potentially lead to criminal investigations and prosecutions.”

The headteachers have highlighted an increase in online comments turning nasty with “individuals hiding behind the fact that comments either disappear after a period of time, or other chats allow anonymous comments to be posted.”

They also highlight that there has been an increase in the vandalism or damage of school property – including both the facilities and resources.

Examples include cutting computer cables with scissors, removing keys from laptops and Chromebooks, damaging charging ports by jamming/tearing them apart with pens, kicking and punching holes in plasterboard and damaging doors, smashing ceiling tiles, blocking or flooding sinks with paper towels and tearing signs and ripping handles from windows.

There is also an increase in inappropriate graffiti on school premises.

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Teachers have also reported an increase in abusive language and swearing among general conversation in friendship groups and as direct threats towards others.

On the increase is pupils vaping on school premises, and the headteachers highlight that staff are having to spend more time stopping pupils from doing it, which takes away from supporting pupils.

The letter says that staff are trying to highlight the issues with the pupils “through the curriculum, assemblies, outside speakers and school councils and forums.”

But they are also appealing for parents and carers to speak to their children.

Whilst acknowledging that it is not all pupils who are causing concerns, they head teachers say they are “highlighting the issues, so that we can tackle them together.”