UNRULY pupils and unrealistic workloads are forcing stressed teachers to take time off, union chiefs have claimed.

As revealed in yesterday’s Daily Echo, nearly 350 teachers are off work sick in Hampshire every day, costing schools millions of pounds hiring temporary replacements.

Ron Clooney, a member of the NASUWT’s national executive, said as well as bugs and viruses that affect workers in all walks of life, teachers face abuse and stresses not experienced in other professions.

Mr Clooney, who represents more than 10,000 members across southern England, said more needs to be done to improve conditions for teachers.

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If not, he believes the number of sick days – which totalled 67,850 in Hampshire in 2007 – will rise even further.

“It doesn’t surprise me the figures are high, and it doesn’t surprise me they’re going up,” he said.

“There are several reasons people go off sick.

“You get bugs, and if you’re working in close proximity to children, if there’s something going round you get it.

“But I think other things are causing lots of problems.

“I don’t care what anyone says – teaching is a highly stressful occupation, and stress manifests itself in people’s illnesses.”

Mr Clooney said having to deal with abusive students takes its toll on teachers.

“They’re sworn at on a daily basis and have to deal with youngsters who are offensive, rude and violent,” he said.

“It’s indicative of a much deeper malaise in our society, but it has a definitive effect.

“Kids are fully aware of the power they hold. They can swear at teachers and there’s nothing much that can be done, and they know that.

“You need to provide more specialist schools for pupils with social and behavioural problems, but that’s the opposite of government policy because they want to include everyone in mainstream education.”

Mr Clooney added: “Teaching is not just an 8am-3pm day and nothing else – teachers’ workloads are not what a lot of people think.