EXPERIENCE OF HARASSMENT

The survey found that older teachers are vulnerable to harassment and bullying in their workplaces as a result of their age. Over a third of respondents (36%) reported that they had been made to feel that younger colleagues were more capable teachers, while 29% stated that they had been subject to negative comments about their professional ability or competence on the grounds of their age. Over a third (34%) of respondents said that they had experienced their views or comments about work-related matters being deliberately ignored or disparaged.

In terms of social interactions in the workplace, 34% of respondents stated that they had been subject to patronising or condescending behaviour related to their status as older teachers, with 17% reporting experience of ageist language that is offensive and insulting, and of such behaviour being tolerated. More than one in ten (11%) respondents reported that they had been ostracised by explicit exclusion from work-related activities, while 14% had felt excluded from social activities with colleagues on the grounds of their age.

SCHOOL POLICIES ON AGE DISCRIMINATION

The survey found that schools were generally not properly equipped to deal with age discrimination and related victimisation, harassment and bullying, since only one in ten schools had a policy addressing this issue. Even in these schools, 75% of respondents did not believe the policies were adequate in terms of identifying the processes staff should follow if they experienced age discrimination or what managers should do when issues were reported to them.

Is there an agreed whole-school policy on age discrimination in your school? PIE CHART SHOWN

88% No
12% Yes Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6